The Appalachians : America's First and Last Frontier

Rating:
Summary: Appalachia Has An Enduring Frontier Spirit
Review: Appalachia, the Southern Highlands, and the Great Smoky Mountains - these are the places where my ancestors settled in the late 1700s, and where my family has remained. As I write this review, it is for two books. The first is "The Appalachians: America's First and Last Frontier." The second is "People of Passion: Stories of Faith & Determination That Will Touch Your Heart & Warm Your Soul." These books combine to present word pictures and photography that do justice to the area and the people I love.

The first book, with its photographs, essays, oral histories, and historical timeline, covers all of Appalachia, including its geography and people, from Mt. Katahdin, Maine, to Mt. Oglethorpe, Georgia. It is a scholarly work that flows well and is easy to read. The diversity of the 200,000 square mile region with its 13 states is evident, but the thread of similarity and solidarity that runs throughout the region and its 23 million people is definitely unique. The book emphasizes that Appalachia is one of the few regions of the country that has its centuries-old culture still intact. And we're not talking about "The Beverly Hillbillies" or "Green Acres." The book does not ignore the stereotypes with which most everyone is familiar, but it also reveals the realities of which relatively few people are aware. It covers the customary moon shiners and snake handlers, but it also includes the literature, art, crafts, music, customs, and other contributions that are distinctive to the region. Reading this book will help one to appreciate better that fact that Smithsonian designated 2004 to be the "Year of Appalachia."

The second book, "People of Passion," presents 200 years of history in the Southern Highlands as told through personal stories. These 48 stories are in chronological order, beginning in 1768 with James Robertson, "The Father of Tennessee." They run through 1965, with the last story being about a mountain nurse named Marjorie Chalmers. In between are accounts of such people as John Ross, the main Cherokee chief for nearly 40 years; Dr. Raymond Huggins, a first-class tooth-jumper; the North Carolina Manumission Society that denounced slavery and purchased slave contracts to free them; Billy Ogle, the founder of what was to become the resort city of Gatlinburg, TN; Mahala Mullins, arguably the most celebrated of the unique Melungeon ethnic group; and the Walker Sisters, staunchly independent women that are still legendary in these mountains. All of the accounts are interwoven with historic research that ties them together, from the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, on through the two World Wars, and beyond. The book is informative, entertaining, and inspirational. It certainly supports its subtitle, "Stories of Faith & Determination That Will Touch Your Heart & Warm Your Soul."

Initially, I got these books because of my personal interest in and love for Appalachia. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was surprised at my very positive response to them. Now, as a classroom teacher, I am going to recommend these parallel books to all of my students and make the books required reading for some of my classes. I want my students to see for themselves that Appalachia has an enduring frontier spirit and that our ancestors' ways, values, faith, and determination are still evident in the midst of the universal changes of contemporary times.


Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: I think this is probably the best book I have ever seen on Appalachia. It covers the history but it is also really fun to read. I especially liked the essays on music. I have looked for a long time for a history book that would be appropriate for high school students and there weren't any out there. I think this book would also be helpful for college students. As an educator, I would highly recommend this book. It seems like all the leading scholars have participated in this book and it shows.

Rating:
Summary: The best introduction to contemporary Appalachia
Review: Several years ago editor Mari-Lynn Evans contacted me for help on her PBS series on Appalachia. Since 1978 I have worked on scores of films, most notably John Sayles' "Matewan," Hollywood films like "Reckless," and many others, both in-state and out of state. I helped create the mega-series by WVPBS on the state - "West Virginia - A Film History," widely considered to be the best film portrait of any state. Ms. Evans also said that a book and CD would be created. I am thrilled that the book that has been produced has become such a great cultural introduction to Appalachia on its own.

I myself have wanted to make a film or write a book on the widespread influence Appalachian culture has had on not only American culture in general, but global culture. Tom Wolfe's book, "The Right Stuff," was one trigger for this inspiration when he talks during the opening of the book about how so many pilots have a twang to their voice that goes back to West Virginian Chuck Yeager. This book largely does what I intended, showing through its many chapters how wide an influence Appalachians like Johnny Cash, Lee Smith, and Senator Robert Byrd have had on all of us.

I particularly enjoyed the many photos taken inside West Virginia, the home state to Ms. Evans and the one where I live. West Virginia is, after all, the ONLY state that is entirely Appalachian. I also enjoyed the many photos of Shelby Lee Adams, who is perhaps the most famous Appalachian photographer now, and the subject of a great documentary, "The True Meaning of Pictures." I also greatly enjoyed the many pictures from Ms. Evans family archive. As a filmmaker for many years, she has protected this archive, and finally had the perfect opportunity to share them with the world.

Two outstanding essays in the book are by two activists fighting the scourge of mountaintop stripmining. Vivian Stockman and Julia Bonds are world-class fighters who have stood up to illegal destruction of the environment unequalled elsewhere in the world. When Ms. Evans began this project, I told her that from my point of view this area is the most important one for people to learn about concerning Appalachia today.

Shortly before I moved to Appalachia from Minnesota, my home state, I watched Barbara Kopple's landmark film, "Harlan County, USA." I met Kopple in New York City, accepting a film award for another great filmmaker, Les Blank. Ever since then - June 1978 -I have been living in Appalachia, working with filmmakers, photographers, authors, and many others, documenting one of the most amazing places on earth. I have worked with Appalshop on many films - Appalshop being perhaps the leading media arts center in the world. I even discovered that my Texas ancestors were originally Appalachians from Kentucky or another homeland of transplanted Scotch-Irish.

The book is a fine introduction - the best that I am aware of - for anyone who wants to learn about all aspects of Appalachian life. It is only 256 small pages, easy to read, and written with great emotion. I am sure it will be used as a model for future books on the region, and perhaps, other regions including my native upper Midwest.

Ms. Evans did produce the PBS series that will finally be aired this fall on national PBS. She said that Sony will also release a CD with music from the region - music popularized recently in the Coen Brothers (also from Minneapolis)film, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" I am very excited about listening and seeing both.

I may still have to write a book or make a film about Appalachia, but it won't have so much to cover thanks to this volume. As an expert on Appalachian cinema, going back to the silent classic "Tol'able David" (1921) continuing right up to Lars von Trier's new film, "Dear Wendy,"(2004) to be released in November of this year, I have watched, and worked on many, many films that give the world various images of Appalachia. I should put this down on paper before something happens. I did help John Nakashima create a wonderful film on this subject, "Mountaineer"(1987) that does catalog many of these images. I may even help Ms. Evans do another film on how this image has changed thanks to recent films like "October Sky," "The Mothman Chronicles," "Deer Hunter," and "Gods and Generals."

Rating:
Summary: A book worth reading
Review: This effort is one of a kind! The pictures complement instead of duplicating the text. On page 94 my grandfather's name should be Henry Whitter instead of Henry Whitner. Henry Whitter traveled to New York City in March 1923 to record several country folksongs which he had written and showcased around Southwestern Virginia. He pioneered country recordings and paved the way for recording careers for later artists such as Pop Stoneman and the Carter Family.