Purely for Pleasure

While Charles Culbertson is best known for his books about historic Staunton, Virginia, he has, over the years, published articles and opinion pieces on a variety of topics - such as the famous people he has killed, the writer's curse, and his quest to buy Errol Flynn's sword at a Christie's auction. These and twenty-one other musings - both serious and not so serious - are presented in "Purely for Pleasure," Mr. Culbertson's first collection of writings not strictly of a historical nature. History is here, however, in the form of four emotionally moving pieces about World War II, including one that sprang from an interview with Iwo Jima photographer Joe Rosenthal. Mr. Culbertson also profiles some of the colorful characters he has known, such as fire-belching editor Ed Berlin, a New Orleans itinerant caricaturist, restaurateur Bob Pastorio and the world-famous Statler Brothers. Some incisive wool gathering and a smattering of hilarity round out this enjoyable volume of reflections by an award-winning writer. "Purely for Pleasure" is illustrated with photos from the author's collection.