A Journey Through Literary America, Thomas R. Hummel, photographs by Tamra L. Dempsey, Val De Grâce Books - This unique literary tour spans the country to highlight the life and work of America's best-known writers. From Washington Iriving (1783-1859) to Richard Ford (1944- ), both the essays and photos delve into the writer's biographies and major literary achievements. It is a unique point of view and perhaps overdue in literary examinations. Expected elements such as Nathaniel Hawthorne's House of Seven Gables and Langston Hughes' Harlem don the pages. Steinbeck's Salinas wasn't missed, but little treats like Sherwood Anderson’s houses, Philip Roth's Weequahic, and Faulkner's map of Yoknapatawpha County help bind the collection.”