Tennessee Books

The radio preachers in Dorgan's book are nothing like the flashy televangelists that one sees regularly on television. Rather, this is religious broadcasting at its most grassroots level. These are "real" people from Appalachia who have what they believe is a mission. They are people who have a deep-seated faith that has seen them through the turbulent times often inherent in Appalachian life. Dorgan treats his four subjects with sensitivity and respect.

Released in 1993, the book addresses what Dorgan sees as a vanishing part of Appalachian life -- the live Sunday radio preacher. Having just returned from those portions of Appalachian in which these preachers have broadcast, I was pleased to hear that seven years later the genre is far from dead, although I would suspect that Dorgan's assessment is a definite trend.

"The Airwaves of Zion" is a unique book that will be readily taken to heart by those interested in Appalchian Religion and/or Religious Broadcasting.

Definitely a great resource. Highly recommended from a private tutor.

Bindas found a subject largely ignored by all Americans: the FMP. We've all heard about the other projects, the FWP, the FTP, and the FAP, but history has ignored music. Bindas records an invaluable piece of Americana that could soon be lost forever.

I believe this book to be the only of its kind, a sad indication of what Americans find noteworthy about their heritage. Reading it is worthwile and fulfilling.

What came to be called the Maysville Road was a 65-mile stretch of dirt road from the Ohio River to the Kentucky Bluegrass region that had its beginnings as a buffalo trace. Starting in the 1770s, it carried Euroamerican settlers of all groups and classes to what was at the time America's western frontier. U. S. Highway 68 now follows part of the old Maysville Road; while other stretches have become parts of farms and woodlands. The Road not only played a key part in the beginnings of the United State's westward expansion, but it was also an early symbol of the freedom, opportunities, and new beginnings of the American dream. "More than a narrative of regional improvements and national political personalities...[the book] employs the biography of a road...as a microhistory of social and cultural change in the Early American Republic." Friend's narrative history focuses on the main types of individuals, families, and groups migrating to the area along the road in different periods. The first pioneers gave way to gentry from Virginia and other mid-Atlantic states; who in turn gave way to businessmen and immigrants. The blending and compromising among the groups led eventually to the formation and "triumph" of the middle class. In 1830, Henry Clay proposed a Maysville Road Bill for bringing government-funded improvement to the area; but this was vetoed by President Andrew Jackson. Friend is an associate professor of history at the U. of Central Florida who has written other books on Kentucky and edits the "Florida Historical Quarterly."

Contains the plays:

Moony's Kid Don't Cry, for 1 male, 1 female and 1 child (not a speaking part).
The Dark Room, for 2 females and 1 male child.
The Case of the Crushed Petunias: A Lyrical Fantasy, for 2 males 2 females.
The Long Stay Cut Short, or, The Unsatisfactory Supper, for 1 male and 2 females.
Ten Blocks on the Camino Real: A Fantasy, for 13 men, 3 women and 10 dancers.

Dr. Kenneth Dodd, zoologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, has authored an amphibian field guide that is so beautifully prepared and interesting to read that its photos and artwork alone make it nearly a "coffee table" volume! But, no doubt about it, this book was clearly written for biologists to enable them to set up and maintain an inventory and monitoring program for Appalachian Mountain amphibians (frogs/salamanders). The need for these monitoring programs stems from the desire to study the reasons behind an inexplicable decline of the world's amphibian population. To help you decide about obtaining a paper copy of this magnificent report, you can get a look at the document by "hopping onto" the internet at http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/c1258_Dodd/index.html.

MATTHEW WARSCHAUER, the personable author of this book can deliver an invigorated lecture on the history of Martial Law Powers in the US. On July 4, 2007 a lecture he delivered in Hartford, CT was aired on the History channel. I found his delivery so fascinating that I am prompted to immediately add this work to my library.

WARSHAUER delineated the conflicts between idea and polity that have existed when Andrew Jackeon, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, and currently George Bush have suspended Constitutional rights in the interests of current threats to National Security. These are issues we have to address as this nation tries to correct the errors of recent history and as we determine our future course regarding personal liberty in the face of an undefined "War on Terror".

If the text reads as well as the author speaks it should make for vivid reading and a
a thought provoking experience. I look forward to it.

This was the first one of Peggy Darty's books I read, and I loved it! The main reason I liked it was besides being a very well written Christian romance novel, it was set near, and had scenes in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee, my favorite area. The main character, Laurel, is a school teacher, who during her summer vacation tutors a rich girl who is spending her school break at her family's summer home. Laurel subsequently meets and falls in love with her student's brother, despite several obstacles that fall in their way. (Including his annoying mother.) I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone!

If you want a book about the symbolism and mythical 'special abilities' of all animals known to people in medieval england this is it. From the cat and dog to the 'camelopard' and hyena, this book has 2-4 pages and some illustrations for each animal. If only someone would make an encyclopedia of animal symbolism like this for all the animals of the world...!

John,

Thank you for your work compiling this information.