by Paul E. Rivard. Softbound, 156 pages, 8-1/2" x 11". A lavishly illustrated social history of the industrial culture that did the most to transform the character of New England and of America. Based on oral histories and archival documents, this book  offers a vast, accessible overview of the rise and collapse of an industry that forced New England into the modern age. In this book, the history of industry and technology tells the stories of the men and women who became the first modern New Englanders.