Hartford Horizons - Urban Tapestry Series Author:Joel Lang "The next years should be full ones for Hartford, full of ideas and hope." So says author Joel Lang as he guides us through the historical Greater Hartford areas, aided by a panoramic sampler of colorful images captured by the area's finest photographers. In a series of concise essays, Lang shares his insights about the character of the region... more », as well as his outlook for its future. He manages to get behind the stereotypes of the "Insurance Capital of the World" to reveal a community with a strong Puritan heritage and a fierce independence. The unifying Hartford character has been ascribed to the Puritan influence, the Yankee work ethic, the prudence of the insurance industry, and perhaps the creative tension among the distinctive towns and villages that make up the Greater Hartford region. Yet, through the years, the "Land of Steady Habits" has steadily adapted to waves of new immigrants, adding strength through cultural diversity to its rich tradition. Indeed, Greater Hartford Horizons comprises a biography of time and place, in which its people, architecture, surroundings, history, business, and leisure pursuits are thoughtfully examined and beautifully presented.« less