Tracing a series of incidents that transformed a small Delaware community in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Herman documents the transition of the area from a wilderness society to an agricultural and commercial economy. The stolen house at the center of the narrative represents the values, aspirations, and fears of the culture that produced it, and Herman's interpretation provides a highly textured insight into the lives of the inhabitants. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
