In addition to his great American classic novels, short stories and essays, Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) was well-known during his lifetime for his history textlbooks. Hawthorne and his wife Sophia (Peabody) educated their children at home so they would have a kind and quality education. From that experience came two of Hawthorne's most popular books during the 1800s, his history books -- stories of events and people he first told to his children during their walks together in the woods. Because the focus on Hawthorne's writing has been primarily literary and moral, his great interest in education has, for the most part, been overlooked. In this book, Author Millie shares some of Hawthorne's important observations about education. He was a remarkable early American homeschooler, one whose life and writings contain lessons for everyone involved in true education. Millie ends each chapter with her own reflections inspired by the lessons from Hawthorne and her observations of education today. Millie invites you to browse her website: www.milliesbooks.org.
About the Author: Millie was "made in China" during World War II - the daughter and granddaughter of missionaries of Swedish descent. Her family was often called "white Chinese" because they lived, dressed, and spoke like their Chinese neighbors. Her father's Mandarin was so fluent that he was "invited" to serve with the United States Marine Corps in China as an intelligence interpreter during the war, and later in Taiwan as a chaplain. Not long ago, Millie was asked if she would choose her life over again. As a war survivor, her childhood was horrendous, but yes, she would choose her life again. And she has done so in her China/Taiwan trilogy: Hungry River, Dragon Wall, and Jade Cross. Growing up in China and Taiwan, she saw how the Christian faith gave dignity and freedom to Chinese girls and women. Not only were their feet unbound, but their hearts and minds as well. That observation has led her to be an advocate for women's rights, and to write her historical novels inspired by her family's experiences. Along the way, she became a college prof and earned her M.Ed., specializing in English education and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Now she has published her first book about him, sharing his great interest in education, especially homeschooling. She has also written historical stories about the women disciples of Jesus likely present at the Last Supper - women who have been long overlooked. In China as a young girl, she learned from her wise father that, of course, girls and women were at the Last Supper. After all, it was a family Seder meal, like a Thanksgiving dinner. Just because they weren't named in the Gospels and are omitted in many famous paintings, that doesn't mean the women and girls who followed Jesus weren't there at the Last Supper. Just like many women were present at the births in the Biblical genealogies even though most of them weren't named. Millie invites you to her website: www.milliesbooks.org.