Tobias of the Amish grew out of a son's desire to know his father, Tobias J Stutzman, an Amish entrepreneur. The quest was daunting, since Tobe died in a car accident when author Ervin Stutzman was three. Ervin delved into a pool of communal memory and peeked into closets with shelves of family secrets. The search revealed tangled strands of relationship, woven by Tobe's ambition through the warp and weft of family, church and community. Tobe was a determined worker, a legend of physical strength and inventive genius in a small community. His weaknesses loomed large too, threatening to sever the thread of trust that held the church community together. Often the Amish are viewed through rose-coloured glasses. This book seeks to paint a more genuine portrait, yet without accenting flaws that would ruin the picture.
ISBN: 9780836191707 (2001) 352pp
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