The inclusion of lengthy quotes, and in some cases entire letters, makes this an good source for information on the life of the great Senator from Vermont. The man known as the father of the Land-Grant Colleges Act.

Michael Chabon is an author I discovered somewhat by accident in 1998 when I picked up a copy of his first novel (his Master's thesis no less!), Mysteries of Pittsburgh at San Francisco's famous City Lights books store. I was looking for something to read on the flight home, and—being born in the steel city—the title caught my eye. That day I fell in love with Michael Chabon's writing style and began actively seeking out his work.

Chabon's third novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, is one of the most unusual, interesting and beautiful stories I have ever read. It is the story of two Jewish cousins—who come together as boys as one arrives in America from Czechoslovakia just ahead of the Nazis invading his homeland—and their adventures building a comic book empire in New York City in the 1940s. Chabon's story explores good, evil, longing, dispair, escape artistry, as well as comic books; but at its heart it is a study of love and friendship.

Nothing more I could write here would do this story justice. It is beautiful, and I loved every word of it.

Powell's has a very good interview with Michael Chabon on their Web site conducted when the author visited the store in October 2000.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2001.