A Journey Through Literary America - Hardcover

This 304 page coffee table book takes a look at 26 of America s great authors and the places that inspired them. Unique to this book of literary biography is the element of the photograph. With over 140 photographs throughout, the images add mood and dimension to the writing and they are often shockingly close to what the featured authors described in their own words. Lushly illustrated, and beautifully designed, the book is as much of a pleasure to look at as it is to read. Rags to riches. Forbidden loves. Supernatural experiences. Narrow escapes. Some of the greatest stories of American literature are the stories of the scribes themselves and of the places that sparked their imaginations. In 2007, writer Thomas Hummel and photographer Tamra Dempsey set out in search of the sources of inspiration for 26 of this country's greatest authors. Two years and twenty thousand miles later, the result is A Journey Through Literary America -- a literary pilgrimage in photography and prose. In the words of one reviewer, "this is a beautiful and necessary book."

Thomas R. Hummel, Writer, grew up in Burlington, Vermont and its environs. His parents, passing along their own lifelong passion, often spoke of--and quoted--literature to him and his three siblings. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in English and German literature from Middlebury College in 1990. He has an MBA in International Business from George Washington University. For the past 13 years, he has been working at Toppan Printing Company. He resides in Santa Monica with his wife and son.