Republic of Shade - New England and the American Elm

The American elm, elegant and highly adaptable, was an essential feature of America's cultural landscape for more than a century, forming great verdant parasols above--and giving its name to--streets all across the nation. The elm became a defining element in the spatial design of America's villages, towns, and cities, first in New England, and--with the westward transit of Yankee culture--eventually throughout the United States. This fascinating and generously illustrated book traces the elm's transformation from a fast-growing weed into a regional and national icon, and shows how Elm Street satisfied America's quest for a pastoral urbanism imagined since the time of Jefferson.

Thomas J. Campanella is assistant professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He is the author of Cities from the Sky: An Aerial Portrait of America.