Mississippi Books

This is the best test driving book i have every read

Autry seems to have no trouble taking his out-look on life and putting it to poetry. I've read it and am trying to find a copy for myself because I liked it so much. I recommend you to get your hands on it if you can.

Mark Twain travels, experiences, observes, and then accurately narrates. This book clearly reflects that from the beginning to the end. Twain is a riverboat captain, and travels up and down on the Mississippi river, seeing cities such as New Orleans, Memphis, and St. Louis. He describes his experiences in very lively fashion to the extent that the reader can very well imagine what river travel was like in Twain's time. It should not be forgotten that river travel at that time was commercial and an essential way of getting back and forth. And Twain makes the reader feel that riverboat travel was lots of fun and very adventurous even at that time. The book is a valuable contribution to history in that Twain accurately describes what has happened and what the events mean for those who live in that time period. Personally, I feel that this is one of the best books I have ever read. Also, the last time I went on a trip aboard the steamer NATCHEZ in New Orleans, I heard the on-board announcer say that if Mark Twain were alive today, the NATCHEZ would be his home. Quite accurate!

I found this out-of-print book at a garage sale and read it to my little boys this afternoon ~~ what a darling little book! I remember reading Little Toot when I was a kid ~~ and this book is a classic!

On the hunt for the big Steamboats that used to own the Mississippi River, Little Toot begins on an adventure that turns out not the way he expected. And on the way, he finds all sorts of boats and animals ~~ and learned about the King of Rivers.

This is a perfect book to read to your children on a rainy day ~~ it's a classic and one that I won't mind re-reading over and over again. I hope this will be one of the very first books that my children will learn to read!

9-22-03

Dr. David Madden founded the Civil War website at LSU and is a real student of the war. This book gives accounts by the survivors of the largest maritime disaster in our nation's history--more lives lost than on the Titanic. The disaster occurred so close to the Lincoln Assassination and Booth Chase and so near the end of the Civil War that it has been largely lost to history.

Many of the soldiers were former prisoners of war at Andersonville (GA) and Cahaba (AL) and were weakened from near starvation. My ancestor was a private in the 3rd Tennessee Cavalry (USA) that had been captured by Gen. N.B. Forrest at Sulphur Springs Trestle, Alabama (near Athens, AL). He survived the disaster, floated to shore at Memphis (the sinking was eight miles north of Memphis on the Mississippi at the Hens and Chickens Islands), walked home to Monroe County (south of Knoxville) and fathered six children, my grandmother included.

Dr. Madden's introduction to the book is worth the entire cost, as he covers the essentials admirably.

Books by Jerry Potter and Gene Salecker give more details on the disaster, the packet boat itself and the trial attempting to assess the responsibility for vast overcrowding, but these first person accounts are priceless.

The annual reunion of the Sultana Descendents will be held in Athens, Alabama on April 13-14, 2007 with Dr. Madden present and speaking.

J.C. Tumblin, Past-President
Knoxville Civil War Roundtable

Lost America was one of the first books on domestic architecture I ever read. While the homes are in different stages of neglect,some were simply wonderful. Thanks to urban renewal and Americans general opinion of all things old being useless,all of these places are gone. While looking through this book, old house lovers will be saddenned and even angry at what was allowed to happen to our forefathers'architectural legacy. One will also have a slight feeling of relief that some are more preservation minded today than 25 years ago. Any student of architecture or architectural history should be required to read this book. It is truly fascinating reading(and looking!).

This book had a poignant feel because none of the historic homes featured still exist, but it was well-written and a work of love. The author's research was exhaustive, photos that were available of these homes were used whenever possible and the stories and histories behind these grand homes were enlightening. A definite read if you love the Old South and its faded glory.

Mary Land's Louisiana Cookery is a fascinating and highly readable popourri of the cookery and culture of all areas of Louisiana, with emphasis on preparation of fish and game .This book, first published by the L.S.U. Press in 1954 must be the foundation of many of the later books on Louisiana cuisine as it encompasses the history of Louisiana food and drink.No part of a meal is neglected ---this book has it all. Highly recommended by one who loves to both eat and read about good food

a must read..... coming of age of a mississippi share cropper... excellent characters... highly recommended.... by the screenwriter of "Nashville"

This is an amazing, well researched, well written history of the first state supported institution of higher learning for women in the NATION. The author is an English prof at Miss. University for Women, affectionately known as "the W." Each October she produces the "Welty Weekend" at the W featuring Southern writers. [Eudora Welty began her college education at the W.] Bridget Pieschel is also the director of the Southern Women's Institute housed on the MUW campus and is editor of a book featuring oral histories of alumnae. That book will be out in October, 2008, I think, and it should be a best seller among Southern women and any Women's Studies programs at any university.