Synopsis "My Father's Mansion (in English)"
"My Father's Mansion" is set in the majestic mountains of Western Maryland during the late1940s and 1950s. Comprised of a collection of unique stories and heartfelt poems, it encapsulates the author's formative years, growing up on a farm. Filled with the adventures of a young boy finding his way through the complexities of life, he begins to discover who he is as he encounters difficulties with his father, some of which will have an everlasting impact on his life. Being part of a large family-mother, father, siblings, and all four grandparents-was an experience that molded his life and gave him direction. These are the memories etched in the young mind of George Windish, snapshots that deepened in meaning and resonated with emotion as time passed. They help form the core of his being and gave him a reference point against which all other experiences are compared. "Windale," the name given the author's home by his parents, was a home he loved, one that became very much a part of his life and influenced his view of the world and the culture he lived in. Built in 1845, the home was remodeled by his father between 1943 and 1945, and the house and the surrounding 250 acres of farmland and forest became the centerpiece from which most of this book springs. While living there, the author developed a profound love for all of God's creations, and Windale's history provided him with a constant source of motivation that fired his imagination and gave him the confidence to pursue one adventure after another. An idyllic setting, the home of Windale and the stories that it gave to George Elliott Windish are a throwback to another era, the literary equivalent of sitting in front of a warm fire, wrapped in a comforter, and sipping hot chocolate. The author's attention to detail is nothing short of mesmerizing, an extraordinary journey into lessons passed on from his father and family, friends and acquaintances. My Father's Mansion is an honest, open-hearted look at the author's childhood loves, fears, and dreams.
