The Natural History of the Traditional Quilt

when i first saw this title in my 'recommendations,' i assumed it was a work of humor or fiction. i realized it was a serious study after reading the synopsis. since this book was aimed at the academic establishment, it is dense and overwhemingly detailed. i skimmed through swathes of verbiage (some of which i re-read in order to follow the argument). however, lay people will find it well worth reading for any number of reasons--and not just quilters. it is an informed and extremely interesting look at the influences on traditional processes and at the errors of judgement and fact people make when judging familiar artifacts. the authors treat traditional quilts as living entities--who experience gestation, birth, life and death, and 'interact' with their environment and families. the case study of the quilts of an appalachian quilt born in the late 19th century is fascinating from the viewpoint of how a quilter quilted and why, the changes in the lives of her children and grand- and great-grandchildren, and the attitudes toward her work. there are various discussions on the effects of quilt revivals upon attitudes, on the effects of commercial interests in quiltmaking, on the differences in attitudes and approaches between the person practicing a traditional craft in the confines of the tradition and those who come to the craft from 'the outside.' much of the book is invaluable in counteracting the romanticization and simplification of the past that plagues not just quilting. the authors deal with demonstrable facts, not fuzzy-minded, uninformed and frequently patronizing suburban fantasies. recommended for serious students of quilt, textile, and social history.