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Letters to Paul / Albert A. Hofffman, Jr.

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Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Hoffman, Albert A.
Contributor:
Gotham Book Mart Collection (University of Pennsylvania)
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Hoffman, Albert A.
Civil engineers--United States--Biography.
Civil engineers.
United States.
Genre:
Biographies.
Autobiographies.
Penn Provenance:
Gotham Book Mart (former owner) (Gotham Book Mart Collection copy)
Physical Description:
136 pages ; 22 cm
Edition:
Five Star Special edition.
Place of Publication:
Baltimore : American Literary Press, [2002]
Summary:
What began as a New Year's resolution to write more letters to his nephew developed into an endearing epistolary memoir tracing Albert A. Hoffman Jr.'s family's history and his personal education. The letters open with the family's genealogy before embarking down a path filled with detailed descriptions of life in Chicago's Catholic northside. He places the reader right into the center of his penetrating remembrances, whether he is describing his rites of passage through boyhood fights, the pain of dentistry in the '30s when Novocaine was just introduced, or the devastation of dire poverty as men steal his mother's dropped oranges.
The post scripts are peppered with song lyrics, apt quotes, and Bible verses flavoring the work with timely authenticity, while touching sentiments and humorous quips are sprinkled throughout, illuminating the author's virtuous humanity and deeply held religious beliefs. Hoffman does more than merely deliver a touching account of his family history, he presents a picture of the dichotomy of American life in the 1930s.
Contents:
6 December 2000
St. Nicholas Day 1
1 January 2001
New Year's Resolutions 3
3 January 2001
First Grade-St. Timothy 11
10 January 2001
Grammar School Activities 14
17 January 2001
More Grammar School Activities 16
24 January 2001
Dad's Childhood Family 20
31 January 2001
Chicago Parades 23
7 February 2001
Family Holidays 26
14 February 2001
Halloween Follow-Up 31
21 February 2001
Piano Lessons 33
27 February 2001
Fisticuffs 34
3 March 2001
Lincoln Park Zoo 37
8 March 2001
Entrepreneur Enterprises 39
14 March 2001
Baerbel and Bill Abhold 43
21 March 2001
Richard Wallner 45
28 March 2001
Edward Cremer 46
2 April 2001
Matthew Cremer 49
8 April 2001
Josephine Heinz 53
18 April 2001
Dentist Visits 58
25 April 2001
Saturday Movie Matinee 59
1 May 2001
Family Living 62
9 May 2001
1938 Chicago Cubs 64
16 May 2001
1938 St. Tims Softball Team 65
23 May 2001
Altar Boys 67
1 June 2001
Colorful Characters 69
6 June 2001
More Colorful Characters 71
13 June 2001
Alexandra Hoffman 74
4 July 2001
Independence Day 76
9 July 2001
Maxwell Street 79
14 July 2001
Family Vacations 81
19 July 2001
More "Know Thy Self" 84
23 July 2001
The Quarantine 87
27 July 2001
Wally Gustafson 91
2 August 2001
Home Maintenance 93
7 August 2001
Blacktopping Maplewood Avenue 96
15 August 2001
Home Vendors and Entrepreneurs 99
23 August 2001
June Betty and Family 102
30 August 2001
Vern Lahart 104
5 September 2001
Clarence "Bronco" Telkus 108
9 September 2001
The Caddy Shack 111
15 September 2001
September 11, 2001 114
16 September 2001
September 11, 2001 Continued 120
7 November 2001
John's Ordination 122
21 November 2001
Bill Kearns 126
8 December 2001
The Immaculate Conception 129
23 December 2001
Card Playing 131
31 December 2001
My Last Letter 133.
ISBN:
1561677515
9781561677511
OCLC:
54408376

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