Browse Items (94 total)

This book, put together with a pin and complete with color illustrations, chronicles the actions of Eathan Allen and his family. Arthur introduces the other Allen family members (Eathan’s wife Mary, his 10 year-old son Jimmy, and his 9 year-old daughter Alice) before focusing on Eathan and his presidency on Big Continent.

The Five Years in the White Mountains volumes are very much books about New Hampshire life, though crafted as wilderness adventure tales. Volume I is written in the first person, and full of local detail about "Beachnutting and Blueberrying" as well as hunting, hiking, building shelters, etc. It is in a way a Robinson Crusoe story not on an island but at home.

The Five Years in the White Mountains volumes are very much books about New Hampshire life, though crafted as wilderness adventure tales. Volume II features the first chapter of a story called "Lost in the Mountains."

The Fight of the Boys details a vicious battle between the "East Siders" and "West Siders," using weapon such as "clubs, canons, wooden spears, wooden sords, and bow guns" to battle each other. There is a significant escalation in violence and weaponry compared to the battle scenes in other stories, but it all ends well since the boys are simply fighting for pride, and once the fighting ends "they are almost as good friends as before."

The Nelson brothers create three books with labeled pictures of flags from the boys' imaginary world. Naval defenses were a key aspect of the Continents' battles, as well as recreational yachting on the ocean surrounding each continent. These books serve as a visual aid to each of the continents and colonies' respective symbols on both land and sea.

Forests of Dixville is a realistic account of the boys' adventures while hiking the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The first two chapters are not included in the book, but chapters 3-4 outline riveting details of their excursion into the wilderness: a close encounter with a panther, hunting, and story-writing.

History of Long Continent is a rudimentary and brief account of the continent's history written by one of the boys at a young age. It is likely that Arthur, "the worlds historian" and leader of Long Continent under the alias "William Little," wrote this particular piece. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this story is the material the boys used to write the story...

History of the Wourld is another example of a story written by Arthur Nelson at a very young age. The intricacies of the boys' imaginary world are not yet developed completely and the cohesive world history explained in the brothers' future works is only beginning to formulate within the young mind of Arthur Nelson.

This appears to be a fragment of a periodical. It begins with an exciting account of a horse race held within the imaginary world and lists the winners of the race. The publication also includes poems by Elmer Nelson and William Little, a story titled "A Valentine" that is unusual for Nelson publications because it is written from a girl's perspective and is morally didactic, a final section is filled with the brothers' self-praise for their work as writers: "there is four of the greatest of the worlds writers William Little, Elmer Nelson, Bert Green, and Arthur Nelson."

These disparate Illustrations highlight the Nelson brothers' proficiency in drawing. Their illustrations range from simple flags to sweeping landscapes and detailed horses and ships. As you will notice, each picture is both charming and impressive.