The Isles of Shoals Remembered: A Legacy from America's First Musicians' and Artists' Colony

by Caleb Mason

Sm Quarto, Hardcover, Pictorial Red Cloth Cover, Gilt Lettered, Unpaginated, Based On William Masons Original 1901 Daybook

First published May 1, 1992

Reviews

[Don Trowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the author. This book was taken from an original handmade daybook for the year 1900 given to the American musician William Mason for his 70th birthday. I came upon the original headed for the trash at a relative's house and researched it off and on over ten years. All 365 pages had a unique inscription. The contributors were all part of Celia Thaxter's Isles of Shoals arts' salon off the coast of Maine during the Victorian heyday in arts. The pages include Childe Hassam drawings, Edward MacDowell musical inscriptions, an entry from Helen Keller, and many pages from the leading classical musicians of the time from around the world. MacDowell's wife later founded the MacDowell colony based on what she saw at the Isles of Shoals. The publisher selected 52 of the most notable and I provided brief text and supplementary photos for each entry. The book was bound in red cloth with gold gilt-stamping to match the original and the time period. Produced on acid-free paper. I was so happy to be able to save the original so others could see it for years to come. And now I am happy to see it digitized online.

Allen Lacy, NY Times: "provides a fascinating glimpse into an important time period in American arts."

William David Barry, Maine Sunday Telegram: "I had not known how important the musical contributors who visited the Isles of Shoals salon were until reading this wonderful book. Adds to our knowledge of the place in a charming, informal way."

Eleanor Perenyi, author of Liszt and Green Thoughts: "what a charming slice of American artistic history seen through the relaxed salon on Celia Thaxter's island of Appledore off the Maine coast."

[Shirley Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real treasure, filled with musical inscription, artwork, poetry, and information about the late 19th century American arts world. Magnificent production with gold stamping on a rich red Victorian cloth cover.