Most diaries provide a glimpse into their creators' lives, but Beyond Words delivers far more: a feast for the eyes and a fascinating peek into U.S. history. Archivist Susan Snyder has selected excerpts from 50 illustrated diaries spanning more than 200 years, culled from the special collections of the Bancroft Library at UC-Berkeley. While a few diarists' names are familiar--John Muir, Mark Twain, Lawrence Ferlinghetti--most chronicle the lives of ordinary people, encompassing travel notes, poetry, ship's logs, pencil sketches and even full-color drawings. The collection is heavy on California history, but spans a variety of experiences: from camping trips in Yosemite Valley to life in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II to adventure on the high seas. Snyder's informative commentary provides context and detail, while the diary pages, presented in stunning visual detail, pull readers into their creators' worlds. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams