The Tavern at the Ferry - Softcover

Tunis, Edwin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801869315 ISBN 13: 9780801869310

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002

Synopsis

At first the ferry was just a hollowed-out log canoe in which Henry Baker carried wayfarers across the Delaware River from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to New Jersey. Horses had to swim and tired travelers were put up in the Baker home. Nearly a century later, in December 1776, General George Washington set up headquarters in a mansion near the prosperous tavern that had replaced Baker's house. In The Tavern at the Ferry, Edwin Tunis recreates the people, houses, and artifacts―indeed, the whole way of life―of a vital period in our country's history with his lively text and more than 100 meticulous and evocative pencil-and-wash drawings. He depicts the rhythms of daily life in pre-Revolutionary America, from cooking, eating, and drinking to farming and fishing, and describes how such enterprises as flax oil mills and ironworks operated.

Through Henry Baker and his family, Tunis tells the story of America's growth in the colonial period and the growing dissatisfaction of its citizens with British rule. More than just set the scene, The Tavern at the Ferry chronicles the dramatic story of the events leading up to Washington's crossing of the Delaware and the ensuing Battle of Trenton, a turning point in the War of Independence. The weeks and days before the crossing were full of intrigue, and Tunis follows the stories of such men as John Honeywell, the patriot double-agent, and Moses Doan, the would-be betrayer, as well as those of the tired but determined troops who turned the tide of war under Washington's leadership. Whether illustrating a dance at a country tavern or soldiers marching across a snow-covered field, The Tavern at the Ferry provides the small, vivid details that bring history to life.

About this title

About the Author:

Edwin Tunis (1897–1973) was born in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, and spent much of his life in Maryland. A well-known artist, illustrator, and muralist, his work appeared at the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Society of American Etchers, the National Academy of Design, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. His other books include Colonial Craftsmen; Colonial Living; Weapons; Oars, Sails and Steam; and Wheels, all available in paperback from Johns Hopkins.

Review:

We should become familiar with this widely read book, which has served as the introduction to colonial inland transportation and industry for many of the spectators attending our events. The story of Washington's crossing of the Delaware, centered on The Tavern At The Ferry, is especially interesting and instructive.

(John Austen Dispatch)

About this edition

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0801869315
• ISBN 13: 9780801869310
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 120