The Metcalfe Family Album: The Unforgettable Saga of an American Family

by Sallyann J. Murphey

A work of the imagination presents the memories of six generations of women on a homestead in Indiana, chronicling their experiences and traditions over a century and a half

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Josée Leon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've owned this book for a few years and am glad I finally read it this Christmas season.
This beautifully illustrated novel is in epistolary format. From one generation to the next, one woman from the Metcalfe family keeps an account of the family happenings, traditions and recipes, mostly adding her entries close to the holiday season or New Year. It just happens that each woman who was given care of the album, married into the family. Their diverse backgrounds added quite a variety to the traditions and recipes. I'm planning on trying a few of the latter. It was quite interesting to see how the lives of the family changed over the years, from 1835 to 1996, and it was sad to read about the members who lost their life very young. A great read during the holiday season!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is the story of six generations of strong women. Through letters, photos, recipes (lots of wonderful historic recipes), household hints, crafts & keepsakes tucked among the journal entries you experience the joys and sorrows of family life and the growth of our nation. A beautiful book and a real joy to read. When I turned the last page, I was not ready to say goodbye to the Metcalfe family.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just charming. It was fun to read about Christmas's thru 6 generations of family. With recipes and crafts included. It seemed almost real. I loved the different fonts used for each generation and the continuity of the family home.