Delightful!

This book presents vignettes of the life of a New Jersey family with twelve children in the early 20th century. Emphasis is placed on the father, an energetic and creative pedagogue who was also a pioneer in the field “motion study”.

With no introduction, these narratives are not placed in chronological order but rather apparently haphazardly, just as memories come back to a person’s mind. The book was written by two of the children, some twenty-five years after the father’s death, when the mother was certainly still alive and active. Though the anecdotes were undoubtedly polished, if not necessarily embellished, they still ring with a knack of authenticity.

The result is lively and entertaining and embodies well a bygone “Father knows best” era. Despite the details provided, much is left in the dark and the reader may well be triggered to look up more on the specifics of this family and its members. Since a specific address is given, it is even possible to view the imposing family home on Google Street View.

In the audio version, short, well chosen musical interludes pleasantly mark the transition between chapters.

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