Abstract

Visit to Amish Country takes you on a journey into the world of the plain people. There are no portraits of the Amish themselves in the book because these modest people do not believe in having photographs made of themselves. Yet through lyrical, strikingly composed photographs of buggies, quilts, tools, clothing, and homes, Raymond Bial has evoked the spirit of their lives - from the tranquility of corn fields and pastures to the quiet interiors of barns, shops, and homes. In Visit to Amish Country you will not only find the material objects of the Amish, but experience the inner calm at the heart of Amish beliefs. Despite persistent stereotypes, the Amish are a congenial people who have found many ways to brighten their lives. More than 100 vivid color photographs show a life rich with color: deep purple and blue Amish dresses on the clothesline and bright red barns against the clear summer sky. As you turn the pages of this book, you will have a sense of wandering the backroads of Amish country, visiting shops offering handcrafted goods and briefly stopping at Amish farms. You will discover that the Amish are a thriving community. Cherishing their families and neighbors, they have wisely selected the best of the old and the new technology and, amid the turmoil of contemporary life, fashioned a pleasant, meaningful world for themselves.