Finding Thalhimers
Praise forFinding Thalhimers “InFinding Thalhimers, Elizabeth Smartt has made her mark as a fine storyteller. She has done so with a fresh and intriguing voice, clearly a triumph for a first-time author. Smartt will pull you head over heels into an ever-expanding family saga from the first page to the last. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll identify with the family characters as your own. And, if you’ve lived anywhere near, in or around Richmond, you’ll remember when…. Don’t take this book to bed with you, unless you plan on staying up all night.”- Nancy Wright Beasley,Richmondmagazine columnist and author ofIzzy’s Fire “Finding Thalhimersis a compelling blend of memoir, history, and genealogical treasure hunt. One must admire Elizabeth Thalhimer Smartt's meticulous devotion to revealing her family's legacy, in full. The Thalhimers lived through and helped shape momentous chapters in American life. But the author's quest to understand these roots and how they might serve as a guide for her own young family is a story in itself. It is heartfelt, at times deeply funny, and in the end, a testament to the enduring power of memory.”– Shane Harris, Senior Writer,Washingtonianmagazine and author ofThe Watchers “As one who grew up in Virginia, I am all too easily swept away just by the name Thalhimer and the memories it evokes.Finding Thalhimersis a complex book, chronicling the rise and fall of a great department store while tracing the lives and times of the Thalhimer family, from Germany to the American South, through Elizabeth Smartt's in-depth research. A rich and evocative read.” – LisaTracy,author ofObjects of our Affection “This book means everything to me. It’s the history of our family. It’s like giving birth to a child and transferring your ancestors’ DNA along to future generations. It’s not a headstone in a cemetery; it’s a living story. It’s an incredible gift.”– Dad (William B. Thalhimer III)