I had read an article about the author in American Frontiersman magazine and was intrigued about the author and wanted to read at least one of his books.
I chose Our Southern Highlanders by Horace Kephart (1862-1931) researching online I found this article about the author here This is really worth reading first as he was an interesting man, and also helped to create the Smoky Mountain National Park which happened a year or so after his death
I found he has a trail named after him and found this online Give a tip of your hat along the way to the trail’s namesake, Horace Kephart. Kephart celebrated Smoky Mountain culture in his widely read Our Southern Highlanders and advocated for the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Killed in a car crash in 1931, Kephart is memorialized in a few other regional place names—not least 6,217-foot Mount Kephart to the northwest. found here
I found the book free on amazon for kindle and also found it free to read online here
I enjoy reading historical fiction novels, and also some history based books. The author is easy to read, and he has written allot of books. Here is a link for more about the book and author
There are allot of pros and cons about this book. That he spent too much time on the feuds, or the moonshining, and that they were for the most part unchanged from the peoples in Daniel Boone's time. I found it enlightening and a very different "take" on true pioneers. He walked into this environment, lived there for a time and I believe wrote what he saw-and he was also a trained historical librarian before hand. He described what the log cabins were really like-not fantasized as we would like to believe. Talked about the politics of the time-how the "law" worked in that area, compared them to the clans of Scotland. I felt the book was worth my time to read it and gave me a new perspective on our history. So I would recommend this book.
Sometimes those types of books can be dry, but this one sounds very interesting
ReplyDeleteI started reading it, but it is going to take longer than I anticipated. It was a bit hard to get started and the wording was a bit strange at first. I think I'll enjoy it once I can fully get into it. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I think Erika will be pleased to read that I remembered Mount Washington in NH. She talked about it being the highest peak in the region and it was mentioned in the book, too.
Sounds good. I always prefer books to films. And I am always happy that so many good books can be downloaded to Kindle for free. Happy Weekend, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteI think a book is almost always better than the film. But I always have a few books going, as you know. This books sounds quite good. Thanks so much for sharing, instead of a movie this week. Happy weekend! Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteOnce again, Kathy, I’m reminded you may have been born after your time! ;))))
ReplyDeleteI just ordered the book from Amazon! Thanks for sharing it. My Grandmother who taught me so much about gardening and herbs could trace her family back to the Appalachians of Tennessee and the Scottish Highlands. They eventually settled in Kentucky in the area where Kentucky Lake is now. I really look forward to reading this book !!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat! Thank you so much for finding this online for free :) I'm putting it in a bookmark folder to read and post about in April on the anniversary of the author's death. And this explains how I find interesting things to post: I steal them from my fellow bloggers ;)
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Well, Kathy, although we didn't live there, when we lived in VA (south western VA near the Blue Ridge), I learned a lot about life...the good, the bad, and the ugly...:)jp
ReplyDeleteMost of the history we've learned is what others want us to know and it's definitely not always the truth. Sounds like it was an interesting read.
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