Tennessee Books

This excellent collection of Ambrose Bierce's writing, organized to replace the autobiography he never wrote.

BUT, this is certainly not a biography. Bierce is not always fun to read. If you're looking for a fun biography, look elsewhere. If you've read enough of Bierce's writings to know what you're getting, give this book serious consideration.

This is the first book where the reader is taken through Bierce's life in his own words. From his experiences in the Civil War until his mysterious disappearance into Mexico in 1913, "Sole Survivor" tells Bierce's tale through his stories, newspaper work, and personal correspondence. A must-have volume for anyone interested in the great American journalist and author.

What most people don't realize is that of the more than 100,000 Southerners who fought on the side of the Union in the American Civil War, some 40,000 were Tennesseans, coming principally from the Appalachian counties of East Tennessee. A Southern Boy In Blue: The Memoir Of Marcus Woodcock, 9th Kentucky Infantry (U.S.A.) is the candid, intimate, and vividly related autobiographical story of one of them who was not yet nineteen when the war broke out. Marcus joined the 9th Kentucky Infantry. A bout of measles kept him from the battle of Shiloh, but then he went on to see action at Stones River, Chickamuagua, Missionary Ridge, and more. Marcus wrote his memoir in 1865, and his descriptions of battles, camp life, and the politics of the time open up an authoritative and informative "window in time" that will be read with interest by academia as well as the non-specialist Civil War military buff.

It's not general known, but of the approximately 100,000 Southerners who joined the Union forces and fought against the Confederacy in the American Civil War, more than 40,000 were Tennessee, especially the Appalachian counties of East Tennessee. A Southern Boy In Blue is the personal memoir of Marcus Woodcock, a young man from Middle Tennessee who at the age of 19, donned a Federal uniform and fought as part of the 9th Kentucky Infantry. Deftly edited by Kenneth Noe, A Southern Boy In Blue is a first hand account of participation at the battles of Stone River, Chicamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, the siege of Corinth, and the Battle of Perryville. In three years Marcus rose from the rank of private to first lieutenant. He wrote his memoir in 1865 and vividly described the battles, camp life, and the politics of the times. A Southern Boy In Blue is a welcome and invaluable addition to the growing body of eye-witness Civil War literature.

Long before the civil rights movements of the 1950s, black industrial workers in the 1930s and '40s set the stage in the South for social change movements. Labor organizers, wary of the racially-exclusive AFL, began organizing for the CIO, with significant support from the organization. Their participation in union politics, elections and organizing "profoundly unsettled the segregation system."

It also confronted trade unions with whether they were concerned simply with wages and working conditions or with larger social goals. While civil rights movements of the era were wholly defeated, the success of the CIO in the 1940s arose largely from the civil rights organizing, and they laid the groundwork for the movements of the '50s and '60s. For instance, racial segregation under local political boss Edward H. Crump extinguished many civil rights for working-class whites as well as blacks, and organizing for civil rights and labor rights became intertwined.

Michael Honey does a fantastic job in explaining the CIO's contribution to the Struggle for Civil Rights. The Left-Led CIO Unions, most of all FTA Local 19, prepared a cadre of African-American working class leaders in Memphis, who were, in fact, the precursors to those of the 1960s. A must for anyone interested in the study of the Labor role in Civil Rights History in Memphis and the South in the 1930s-1950s.

Can't understand how this country works if you don't see how racism has been used, especially to divide workers. Honey writes about a pivotal time in American history when the working class was organizing and had the potential to transform the South for workers and African-Americans. The lessons are no less true today. A must read for organizers of any persuasion.

This book is a must have for any library on Appalachia or the Great Smoky Mountains. Michael Frome does an admirable job balancing sensitivity for the mountain people, their customs, attitudes, and anomalies with historical research and insightful commentary about the creation of the Park and its future. Being a native of the region, from a long line of Appalachian families, I felt that I understood my home more after reading this book than I ever would have otherwise. With equal nods to conservationists and tourists alike, this book will educate, entertain, and enlighten anyone who cares about this most beautiful and mysterious of regions. Additionally, Frome implores the reader to know the Park intimately, to abandon the car and strike out on foot, to rejoice fully with Mother Nature in Her playground. The addition of Strangers In High Places to your collection will be one of the best decisions to be made.

This book is a must for all who love the Smoky Mountains. In it you meet those players who made this magical place what it is today, including the wind and rain, early pioneers and geologists, loggers, whisky distillers, woodsmen and rangers. If you want to get beyond the slide shows and park brochures, read this book and learn what the Smokies are really all about.

Small town life described with authentic flavor, likeable characters, and a good deal of fine humor make this chaste love story suitable for readers of all ages. Easy to read and relatively short, this hardcover book would make a great gift for anyone, but perhaps especially for a young reader who is ready to discover the romance genre.

Great descriptive novel of summer time in rural Tennesee. Ms. Carey pictures the true life of a part of America where "everyone know everyone" and where most of the local characters are related. Her humor is perfect. This is a warm love story of two entirely different personalities who compliment each other.

received item in timely manner. This is a cheaper way to receive my daughter's book for college then buying on campus. Books usually are in great condition

I purchased this book for a course on TN history. I've found it an easy read but written in a manner that captivates and holds your attention. Not your typical boring history book but instead a well written timeline of the state of TN's history.

This is a wonderful gift for anyone who has a Tennessee heritage - and will be a treasure to anyone who calls Tennessee home and "lives" there through history, family, memory and spirit. The pictures and words paint a wonderful tapestry that will ring familar with anyone who shares their "roots" with the wonderful people of Tennessee. It was a special gift to me and I have, in turn, given it to many who share a connection to the colorful and distinct culture of this state and its people.

This collection of photographs from the State of Tennessee is absolutely breathtaking. Every page captures the awesome beauty of this State and touches my heart to the core. Having lived in Tennessee all of my life, this book fills me with pride.

This book has everything you need to know about certain plants that grow in the East Tennessee area. Complete with color photos and it even tells you how much care the plant needs to survive.

My favorite gardening book. If you garden in Tennessee, this is the book for you. I get this book out every season. Truely the what, when, and where of Tennessee gardening. It really helps me to pick the perfect plant for for my gardens. It has also been very helpful in picking great trees for my yard, selecting the right fertilizers, and when and how to prune. I love the format of the book. It is very well organized and easy to read. It doesn't bombard you with a lot of unnecessary info, like so many garden books do. I also love Walt's Wisdom that is scattered throughout the book.(Example; To hear God's Voice, turn down the volume.) I think this will become one of your favorites!

The series by Mr. Schweitzer covering a number of states is an excellent starting point for most researchers as well as a handy reference to have. Mr. Schweitzer begins with a brief historical overview of the state's settlement, geography, industries, migration and the like which helps to paint a picture of what likely drew your ancestors there. Mr. Schweitzer's writing style is very plain and direct and he includes a wonderful county by county listing of resources for each state as well as overall statewide resources and records available at the Federal level. There are undoubtedly books that go into greater detail on each state but the Schweitzer series are a great starting point and well worth the money if you're researching there. His titles usually have to be ordered at local booksellers so Amazon is your best bet at getting these quickly and painlessly. One particular note is that this title was written years ago and some telephone numbers and addresses have changed and some groups or societies may be dormant or closed. Additionally Mr. Schweitzer does not make reference to internet sources or email addresses, which is just as well as they tend to get out-of-date quite quickly. I've gotten considerable use out of this title on Tennessee and it continues to be very helpful.

This is one of the most important books in my genealogical library. I have had my copy for over 10 years and still use it constantly as a reference book.

This book gives a good comprehensive history of the formation and boundary changes in Tennessee. He also gives suggested reading and locations of records and collections of historical data.

It was his information on the boundary changes that re-directed me many times when I was lost in the wrong county. He saved me many hours of wasted research time.

If you research in the Tennessee area at all, this book should be in your library as a permanent fixture.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I'll acknowledge that I knew Admiral Lawrence and always had great admiration for him. This book captures exactly who he was. It conveys his sense of patriotism and dedication to mission. It truly communicates what the career of a highly successful naval officer is like. He takes it step by step from his days as a midshipman through his service as a flag officer after returing from Vietnam, where he was a POW for a number of years. The book is matter of fact and to the point. I truly had the sense that we were sitting together and he was telling me the story of his life. In addition to his achievements as a Naval Aviator and his experience as a POW, Admiral Lawrence held positions of responsibility in the Pentagon, as Superintendant (president) of the Naval Academy, and as a fleet commander. The chapters in which he discussed his youth in Tennessee are also moving, as are his discussions about his family. Anyone who has an interest in what a life of naval service truly entails should be delighted by this excellent autobiography.

As one who served with Admiral Lawrence in the Fourth Allied POW Wing in Hanoi, NVN and later at USNA, Annapolis MD, I can verify that this is a quality look at an ethical officer, gentleman, husband and father - a man for all seasons.

The macho posturing of some fighter pilots, the political posturing of some in the Flag Mess, the rewriting of some in respect to POW history and the tendency of most to make ourselves look good are missing. If you want this bloviating, go someplace else.

You can catch the excitement of flight training, the exhilaration of carrier flight operations, the challenge of test piloting, the disappointment of being literally a heartbeat away from the space program, the mundane plodding of being a "horse holder" (Admiral's Aide), the loneliness of Officer of the Deck underway, the delicate balance of civilian control by political appointees (the "Christmas help") & loyalty to one's service and shipmates, the solitary isolation of command and the agony of betrayal - all this in one book - this book.

There is no attempt to justify one's life in this work. There is no effort to burnish one's image in the book. There are no craven attacks to get even for real or imagined wrongs. There are not tales told out of school or sly innuendoes directed at those currently in power. If you want this, go read the tabloids - the Washington Post or the NY Times.

This is the sometimes exciting, sometimes mundane but always interesting story of a decent human being who tried to make the most of his God given gifts in the service of his country. His only wish was to do what is right. I never heard him ask anything for himself.

If your want a refreshing account of the adventures of a true American hero, ethical to the core and loyal to a fault, then you want to obtain this book for your library. It is in mine.