William P. Robertson

“STORIES FROM THE OLDEN DAYS by William P. Robertson begins as a story about William's life growing up with his friends. He shares the fun and the trouble they got into. I loved reading it. Before you know it, you have to buckle up and hold on because this page turner is taking you on the ride of your life. You will be wondering how did he find out I did that? Where was he when that happened? I totally relived my growing up years and school and friends reading this book. I didn't live anywhere near William. I was in California. But no matter where you lived, where you were brought up, if you were born in the 1950's and grew up in the 1960's, you grew up in the best years ever. We made many changes and because of our changes our kids now are able to have more freedoms than we did. I gave this book 5 stars but it clearly deserves many, many more. This book would look fantastic on any bookshelf. It would make a great gift to give, and you know the holidays are around the corner. I highly recommend this book to everyone. If you read the book and thought it was boring, then re-read it with an open mind. We, the baby boomers, went through a lot, had bunches of fun without what kids have today, and here we are still having bunches of fun. Thank you, William P. Robertson, for taking me on that journey back in time. I hope to see more from William P. Robertson.” - Coco

“Stories from the Olden Days: A Humorous Look at Growing Up in the 1950's and '60's is a collection of short non-fiction vignettes written by William P. Robertson. These stories work together as a memoir of the author's earliest years through to his graduation from high school. Robertson grew up in a small and closely knit town in Pennsylvania. His father chose the small house where they lived because of the land it was built on. They had woods behind it as well as a stream. Robertson had a full and energetic life in those woods and other places where he and the kids in his neighborhood would get together and play. There was a pond where they'd hunt for frogs and salamanders in the summer and skate in the winter. Robertson was just at the age to appreciate music when The Beatles' music reached the United States. This was at about the same time as he was going to high school, and every week there were dances where garage bands played. William P. Robertson's non-fiction humorous memoir collection, Stories from the Olden Days, is marvelous reading that makes you laugh and remember what it's like to be a goofy kid again. Shining throughout the stories is the author's affection for his sister and parents and the friends and relatives who were part of his life as he was growing up. I found the book hard to put down. The photographs of the author's father hamming it up are priceless, especially the one where he's attacking the Thanksgiving turkey with a Bowie knife. But equally memorable are those stories about his father taking him out on his first hunting trip and the two of them melting lead, casting and then painting the lead soldiers they would later wage battles with. This is a warm and big-hearted book that shares so much of the author's life, and it makes you smile as he recounts the good, the outrageous, and even the truly awful things that happened back then. Stories from the Olden Days is most highly recommended.” - Jack Magnus

“I had trouble putting down William P. Robertson's book, STORIES FROM THE OLDEN DAYS. From the very first page, my interest was captured by how he grew up in the 50's and 60's. The book is made up of short stories that are obviously told with love and are easy to read. STORIES FROM THE OLDEN DAYS makes me wish I grew up in that time. It is nice to see how some things have stayed the same since Robertson was in school, yet many things are very different. I found it funny that the kids sang the same "naughty jokes" when I was in grammar school in the 80's as they did in the 50's. The differences I noticed are that nowadays I do not know of any school that still has a rifle team, and I am glad teachers are not allowed to paddle their students anymore. I love how Robertson shared actual photos with his readers. I like to put a face on the characters I read about; it makes me feel as if I know them. It also makes the book look sort of like a scrapbook, which I really like. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Robertson's fond memories in STORIES FROM THE OLDEN DAYS. It gave me a glimpse of the past when things seemed to be simpler. It also made me see that kids seemed to have more fun back then compared to today. I recommend this book to anyone who needs to be reminded how the "olden days" were.” - Jessyca Garcia

“The 1950s was the era of the baby-boomers, or so we've been labeled. It's hard to imagine that the 1950s are now considered the 'Olden Days.' But, then again, that's part of William P. Robertson's charm and sense of humor. Stories from the Olden Days is a collection of Robertson's memories from his growing up years in the 1950s and 1960s. He starts with a quirky chapter on political correctness of this era. Actually, as he points out, it didn't exist. That's why he titles the chapter "Politically What?" As the author suggests, during this time, "People spoke their minds, plain and simple. The next few chapters introduce the reader to the author's childhood neighborhood, his friends, his parents, and his sister. No one was spared the author's attention to detail and his sense of humor, but all of his descriptions are given in good fun with no insult intended. Most of the stories center around Robertson's childhood, but the latter part of the book introduces us to the teenage Robertson as we meet his first love in "Love-Itis. William P. Robertson is quite the character and, through his collection of memoirs, it becomes clear to the reader that he has always been a character, just like his father, whose humorous pranks lightened the mood all around and provided lots of fun for children and adults alike. This is a book of anecdotes that provides a humorous look at growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. It's also a fascinating read and an interesting trip down Memory Lane.” - Emily-Jane Hills Orford

“THE 190TH BUCKTAILS: CATCHIN' BOBBY LEE Sergeant Curtis, Boone, Bucky, and Jimmy have fought together in some of the most famous battles the Civil War had to offer, Antietam and Gettysburg, for example. On May 31, 1864, it was time for them to decide to continue on as a Bucktail and see the war through or head on home as their enlistment service time had succeeded. Jimmy wanted to pursue a law degree, and Bucky, who had started a young family, decided their soldering days were over. As for Sergeant Curtis and Boone, they reenlisted with the Bucktails and became part of the 190th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Will Boone and Curtis overcome the obstacles many soldiers face during the war and be two of the few original Bucktails left to see their new enlistment term all the way through to the end? The 190th Bucktails: Catchin' Bobby Lee written by William P. Robertson is just one of the author's many Civil War novels. The book introduces readers to the Pennsylvania Bucktails during the end of the Civil War. The author writes in a unique dialog suited for the time period. For example, the use of the words "gol-dang" (God Damn), "jess" (just), "kin" (can), and "bully" (great) are used throughout the text and are meant to represent the slang language often used. By incorporating the dialog of the Civil War era as such, a reader can fully grasp an understanding of each character's lifestyle, habits, and emotions. The historical facts such as the whereabouts of each battle are accurate, even if the characters are fictional. The author provides many intricate maps throughout the book, providing a reader with a timeline of sorts, with the locations and dates, allowing for full comprehension of the geographical location of the Union and Confederate Army in each chapter. The photographs supplied within the book are of both reenactors and original Union soldiers. Having the unique dialog, the detailed maps, and the photos of the soldiers, the author creates a complete understanding of the story plot for his readers. The 190th Bucktails: Catchin' Bobby Lee is an adventurous, entertaining, and educational tale for both young adolescents and adults to read, learn with, and enjoy. This book can be read on its own to fully grasp the characters' individual personalities and the historical timeline within. It is recommended that the previously published novels in the series are read beforehand. I have read all of William P. Robertson's Bucktail books. I would recommend them all including this one to anyone interested in historical fiction and the Civil War. I absolutely couldn't put them down.” - Michelle Robertson

“On HAYFOOT, STRAWFOOT: THE BUCKTAIL RECRUITS From our first introduction to a young Indian boy's survival, we are drawn to the courage evinced by Bucky and his abiding friendship with his opposite, the minister's son. This book is well-researched creative nonfiction that will delight the reader in its understanding of true friendship and what it was like to live and grow up quickly in Civil War times.” - Elizabeth Klungness

“On THE BUCKTAILS' SHENANDOAH MARCH Entertaining fiction...historical accuracy...the kind of work that will lead our younger generation to appreciate the sacrifices of the Civil War and create a desire to continue to preserve our history as they grow and mature. Bravo!” - Captain Richard G. Adams

“On THE BATTLING BUCKTAILS AT FREDERICKSBURG The thing I really like about the Bucktail novel series is that the authors give a real sense of the day-to-day life of the Civil War without lecturing. It'll be an eye-opener for many kids to realize that it wasn't all fighting but lots of sitting around, eating lousy food, and pointless marches.” - Gary Miller

“On THE BATTLING BUCKTAILS AT FREDERICKSBURG As an educator, I see the Bucktail novel series as an excellent teaching tool for middle school social studies. Not only is it readable (very important) and accurate, it also gives the student plenty of everyday details on how the people who fought the war lived...a highly useable and recommended resource.” - G. W. Thomas

“On THE BUCKTAILS: PERILS ON THE PENINSULA I highly recommend this book for all middle schoolers, even those reluctant readers.” - Bonnie Forrest