The Death and Life of Main Street

“Thought-provoking.” — Publishers Weekly

“Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above.” — CHOICE

“An eye-opening exploration of the mythology and culturally laden concepts behind small towns and Main Street.” — The Annals of Iowa

“An invigorating kaleidoscopic tour as different elements pop into prominence in different chapters. . . . A fascinating exploration of the transformation of the small town in the national imagination from slough of black-slapping mediocrity to embodiment of democratic virtue.” — Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

“This book is rich with literary and visual examples.” — Journal of American History

“A creative, cohesive approach. . . . Orvell’s analysis is astute and readable. . . . A compelling and useful text.” — North Carolina Historical Review

“An admirable job of mapping the symbolic meanings of small-town America. . . . Lucid and engaging.” — Journal of Historical Geography

“Leaves no doubt that the New Urbanism owes a debt to small-town America.” — AAG Review of Books

“Stimulating and productive. . . . A striking example of how to do cultural history.” — H-Memory

“An engaging study of the development of Americans’ sense of community in the twentieth and early twenty-first century. . . . A worthwhile read for those interested in the intersection of American culture with urban and suburban history.” — Australasian Journal of American Studies