North Carolina Books

I found this book to contain great ideas and images about the changes in masculinity and femininity as portrayed in the American media. My students enjoyed the ideas in class discussions as well.

As the saying goes, "Beauty is not skin deep." Of course, that doesn't matter to the American media; it would seem that in their opinion, there's no place in our society for anyone whose beauty is not evident on the surface. Moreover, the standards of beauty on television and in the print media set the bar quite high. A pretty face won't do; to be a superstar, you need to bare lots of skin, like Britney.

Thinking back to Victorian-era prudishness, when a girl's *ankles* couldn't be exposed and when a woman's place was in the home, it's hard to imagine how our culture got to this point. How did we women get to where we are today? And what relationships, if any, are there between the way we live life and the media images surrounding us?

To learn the answers to these questions and more, read "The Girl on the Magazine Cover." Kitch, a journalist and historian, presents a compelling case for women's journey from "matronly" to "dangerous but beautiful" to "cute, skinny, and sexually free." Her focus is on 1895 through 1930, a period of some of the most rapid changes in our history, when technology, early feminism, and higher education intersected. Kitch argues that one result of their intersection was the "new woman," whose liberation was quickly co-opted by the forces of capitalism and consumerism into little more than a marketing tool. (Progress, indeed!)

Note that Kitch's focus is broader than the title would imply: She devotes one chapter to depictions of African-American women, another to the crisis of masculinity faced by men in this era of change, and still another to families. Her epilogue is quite strong, drawing connections between the depictions of women in early magazines to the depictions of women on television today.

In sum, "The Girl on the Magazine Cover" is an evocative, compelling contribution to the fields of mass communication and women's studies. Kitch's arguments are sound, backed with extensive research and illustrated by well-chosen reproductions of period magazine artwork. If the media, women's rights, and/or stereotyping are of interest, then this is the book for you!

America is more than familiar with the stereotypical blonde bombshells that grace the covers of magazines, television programs, movies, and advertisements. In Carolyn Kitch's book she is able to outline the origins of how stereotypical images came about. Her extensive background in the media along with the use of actual magazine illustrations allows her to present her arguments in a way that anyone with an interest in women's history in the media can understand.

Kitch's book maintains the reader's interest by citing specific examples, providing information about the time period, and providing illustrations. Keeping a loosely chronological form allows the book to flow, but the ideas of the time period are more important to Kitch than keeping a pattern. She breaks at appropriate points to discuss alternate visions that challenged and reinforced stereotypes in the media.

While Kitch's book is effective, it is not extensive. Its sheer size just doesn't allow Kitch to get as in depth as she could. She promises so much in the introduction, but isn't able to deliver all that she promises.

The books briefness keeps it from being extensive, but it is still able to provide me with a more organized knowledge of how stereotypes of women in the media such as the ever-popular blonde bombshell came about.

After obtaining some old women's magazines from the 1900's, I wanted to learn more about drawings of women which graced these magazine covers. I also wanted to understand why illustrations were used far more often than photos, even after photos were used for the ads within the magazines themselves.
This book was just what I needed to understand not only what the illustrators were trying to say about women's roles at the time but about how so many of these images and stereotypes of the "ideal" woman still permeate our magazines (and culture) today. If you've ever doubted that "what goes around comes around again" when it comes to women's stereotypes and ideals, reading this book may change your mind.
For those familiar with such icons of The Golden Age of Illustration as C. Coles Phillips's Fadeaway Girls or the rather sophisticated women of J. C. Leyendecker or any other artists of the time, this book will be a delight, revealing new insights about the artists visions. For those interested in social history, the book is equally engaging, showing how artist who drew cover girls for popular magazines such as Life, Saturday Evening Post and Good Housekeeping also worked for major businesses and even the government, helping to perpetuate the popular images of women throughout the culture.

So much of what Charleston is now has been the result of whitewashing its past more than its historic buildings. With a depth and criticism, Yuhl establishes a balanced understanding beyond what most visitors see in the water-colored myths available for purchase and the selective memories handed down to native Charlestonians and like-minded transplants. A complex and contradictory reality behind the fabrication of Charleston's historical mythology is revealed with wit and scholarly directness. This is a must read for anyone looking to know more than what gets promoted by the tourism industry. Perhaps Yuhl's book will be considered a milestone in bringing present Charleston, though maybe kicking and screaming, in to a more accurate understanding of past self.

Stephanie Yuhl's study of Charleston is a great read, organized brilliantly with metaphors from theatre, and wonderfully well written. As a newcomer to Charleston but a long time South Carolinian, I was fascinated by her account of how Charleston has marketed itself. Her analysis of the literature of the Charleston Renaissance is extremely insightful as is her critique of Charleston's most well known painters. But perhaps most astute is her analysis of class and race relations. This book is definitely a prize winner!
Carolyn Matalene
Distinguished Professor Emerita
University of South Carolina

When you visit Charleston for the first time you are impressed and at times overcome by the sheer beauty of the place. The charismatic churches, cobblestone streets, and preserved homes seem almost movie set like in their ability to transport you to another time. Stephanie Yuhl's book very adeptly explores the phenomenon that is Charleston. This capitol of the south has been able to preserve itself like many European cities have done for centuries. An effort that is largely ignored in most other American urban areas. I wish I had "Golden Haze of Memory" when I first went to Charleston, as it explores how and why this Southern Belle of a city has sought urban renewal through preservation of a romanticized past.

Stephanie Yuhl's book on the "making" of historic Charleston, South Carolina during the 1920s and 1930s -- the era of "Porgy and Bess" -- is fascinating. Yuhl deconstructs the mythmaking that artfully ignored some of the city's less heroic features and transmuted them into a placid, controversy-free image of a way of life at once locked in the past but also looking forward.

Stephanie Yuhl's book is a great read for historians and layman alike. I loved it. As a native Carolinian(North), adopted Charlestonian, historian, and community college instructor, I found the book fascinating. The research and conclusions are thorough and thoughtful. I have used it as a reference for my own research on memory and cultural association. The sources and notes are extensive. Yuhl's book, as any good history, creates new questions for debate. Those people who consider themselves versed in the history of the city should read it and have an opinion. This book is "about Charleston" and "FOR Charleston". But it is also for the rest of us who visit and study the city, and care about its special place in the history of the South.

AS a grandmother, I often feel a sense of dismay at the lack of exposure modern day children are being afforded of the classics of literature. Books like this one with wild illustrations designed to grab the eye of the reader and keep it with a text more understandable to the twenty first century child are a gift to be shared. This is a book that will attract readers. I can't think of anything more important. With vocabularies being drawn from television, movies and video games that often fall very short of expressive ideals, it is so nice to see some one tackle Swift and make him palatable to young readers. Anyone up for Dickens, Kipling and Stevenson? What about good old Mark Twain? Kudos to Jenkins and Riddell.
My soon to be six year old grandson will love this book. I consider it my job to make sure he keeps getting treasures like this one.

When most of us hear the name "Gulliver," a picture probably comes to mind. A giant. A strong, brawny fellow? Leave it to consummate illustrator Chris Riddell to give us a smile provoking Gulliver with knobby knees, a bump in his nose, and shirt askew. Gulliver is still prone to many adventures, just as Jonathan Swift intended when he wrote "Gulliver's Travels," but he's also a tad clumsy with a tendency to wind up in comical positions.

There he is in Lilliput on the first of his voyages skewered into the sand by all those little people. In this double-page full-color spread every bony finger is pinioned, his waistcoat is tacked to the ground, and one big toe pops through a hole in his sock. Next, we find tiny spear bearing soldiers marching across the length of his body.

Consider Gulliver's voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubrib, and Japan. If you recall, the ship he was aboard is taken over by not one but two pirate ships. Such ferocious buccaneers you've never seen. Thankfully the Dutch pirate captain showed our hero a little sympathy, and we find him tucked into a small canoe and set afloat.

Each of Riddell's illustrations is a gem, and will surely be enjoyed over and over again. He is a political cartoonist for the Observer, thus the perfect choice to bring Swift's political satire to life.

Martin Jenkins has done a yeoman's job of retelling this classic. His adaptation is true to Swift's original story yet it is more easily understood by young readers. While this Gulliver will hold appeal for all ages, it is certainly a choice introduction to what is considered to be one of the finest stories ever written. Kudos to both Martin Jenkins and Chris Riddell with, of course, a deep bow to the memory of the incomparable Jonathan Swift

- Gail Cooke

Gulliver's adventures to imaginary lands are used to illustrate the foibles and pettiness of mankind. In his first adventure, he finds that the tiny Lilliputians are forever at war with their island neighbors over how to crack open an egg, and they are therefore suspicious and manipulative. By contrast, the giants of Brobdingnag live by "common sense, reason, justice and fair play," but Gulliver is often in danger by being so tiny in their country. In other lands, Gulliver meets all kinds of characters - constant worriers, crazed inventors, preposterous rulers, and some chatty ghosts who give him a history lesson. With each adventure, Gulliver becomes increasingly aware that the beliefs he holds about mankind's achievements may be the opposite of what he had thought. Finally, he meets the horse-like Houyhnhnms (sounds like a horse neighing), "noble creatures ruled entirely by reason," who have no idea of evil. Their country is also inhabited by Yahoos, wild animal-like humans without any redeeming qualities, who steal from each other and squabble endlessly. Gulliver is so taken by the civilized, virtuous Houyhnhnms that he would like to live happily ever after with them, but they can't get over the fact that he really must be a Yahoo, who will only encourage the other Yahoos to revolt against them. He is cast adrift in a small boat and eventually finds himself back in England, where he has to get used to lying, deceit, self-importance, and greed once more. Some of the story elements are a little disturbing, such as his attitudes towards the servant classes, and some of the outrageous behaviors of certain characters verge on disgusting, but this is always used to make a point. Overall, this is a beautifully-made book with much food for thought, for both young and old alike.

This is really a beautiful book. The illustrations are quirky and captivating and the language, while not antiquated, still reads like a classic. I sat reading it to my 7 year old son in the bookstore for a good 15 minutes before realizing we just had to take it home. Originally a story which my son would have had to wait until at least junior high to read, this version sits up on the shelf next to Doctor Dolittle, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland etc. The fantasy is emphasized but the political satire is gently present for those old enough to appreciate it.

great- excellent information in an easy to use and understand format- highly recommend to anyone with an interest in oldest mountains on earth or just in visiting western north carolina.

This is an excellent and actionable guidebook. It introduces aspects of area history, geology animal and plant life in an accessable format. Plenty of specifics are provided to help you find the exact place being discussed, and you are warned in advance how long or hard the hike will be.
This is the only regional guidebook I have found that divides the area along its prominent geologic areas, and discusses the topology, history, flora and fauna from that perspective.
It took me a little effort to get oriented, but with the help of my local topo map book, I was soon understanding in greater depth the beautiful area in which I live. I love to hike and trout fish, and this book is helping me plan my outings. This Sunday, you will find me fishing on Spillcorn Creek.

As a child of Asheville, I found the book very good. I learned details about the area I was born and raised in that at 56 I did not know. Anyone that wants to know lots about this national treasure of outdoors must get this book!

The Highroad series of guidebooks is a blessing to anyone wanting to explore the mountains. The North Carolina guide is no exception. The author includes detailed, up-to-date information on trails, camping, rivers and other areas of interest for lovers of the outdoors. The book includes not only the well-known places but also out-of-the-way, obscure sites well worth a visit. The maps are a plus. If only I had this guide when I lived in North Carolina!

Having hiked extensively in the Carolina Mountains for 40 years, I open new trail guides with a weary skepticism. With this book my skepticism was unjustified. Ms. Bernstein's book does not attempt to be exhaustive, but it covers a wide variety of trails in two states. In it, you will find a trail for any hiker in any season of the year.

The trail descriptions (at least for the 35 or so I have hiked) strike a nice balance between length and detail with no sacrifice of relevant accuracy. The maps are uncluttered and well integrated with the text.

This is an easy to use guide to some great hikes here in the Western Carolinas. I live here and hike with a club. Until now, I've usually been following the leader and haven't really known what the hike "looked like" or where exactly I was going. I don't have great map reading skills and I don't use a GPS. In fact, I'm a person who couldn't take my relatives and friends from out of town on a moderate hike here in the Carolina mountains. And I'm not the only one with that problem. But that will change. For each hike, the book provides detailed driving directions and a simple map. For the actual hikes, there are very clear trail maps with text that describes exactly what I'll see along the way, shows which path to take at each intersection and notes what landmarks I'll see along the trail. I did a 7 mile hike this weekend using the book and felt totally confident. It was a new experience to not only complete the hike but also to know exactly what it had encompassed. Happy Trails.

This pocket guidebook to the best day hikes in the Carolina mountains deserves the highest praise. Each entry provides detailed, straightforward directions for each hike, accompanied by clearly presented maps and pictures of landmarks. While the book offers valuable resources for experienced hikers, it would also be an excellent choice to give to a friend who may be just beginning to explore the outdoors, as the introductory material explains the essentials of hiking safety and includes a checklist of necessary equipment. The lively essays placing local points of interest in their historical contexts are another major strength of this guidebook. I would never have guessed, for example, that the North Carolina and Georgia state militias fought a battle over the boundary between the two states--fifty years before the Civil War (see page 145). Milestone Press should also consider producing mp3 audio narrations of the hikes and the accompanying essays to enjoy while on the trail.

The mountains of the Carolinas are an embarassment of riches for hikers, with literally thousands of miles of trails. The problem has been choosing the most interesting hikes. There are several trail guides, but unless you are willing to spend a lot of time studying maps to create your own circular route, you'll be stuck hiking in and out on the same trail. Hiking the Carolina Mountains solves that problem by providing details of 57 hikes, most of which include loops. The book is also the first that I've seen that covers areas such as upland South Carolina and DuPont State Forest in North Carolina. Hiking the Carolina Mountains also provides detailed information on how to drive to the trailhead, interesting sidelights on the history of the area, and readable maps, all of which are usually missing from trail guides.

This is the book need to hike the Carolina mountains.

WNC Hiker

IT HAPPENED IN NORTH CAROLINA by Scotti Kent (Cohn) is a fascinating telling of American history specific to our 12th state, North Carolina. It is filled with vignettes about patriots, pirates, Indians, early settlers, gold rushers, regulators, Unionists, U-boats, and stock car racers. In its pages one will find stories about Jefferson Davis, the Rose Bowl, the Wright brothers, Babe Ruth, and four black freshmen who practiced civil disobedience. From "the people of one fire" in 1250 C.E. to the filming of Dawson's Creek in Wilmington, NC in the late 1990s, the Old North State has some interesting history which has been captured here in a friendly, accessible style for readers of all ages.

Carefully researched and imaginatively told, these twenty-seven short episodes will be quickly devoured and leave one wanting more. The book also has a potpourri of interesting North Carolina facts, e.g. North Carolinians declared their freedom from British rule more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was crafted by Thomas Jefferson, and Carolina was taken from "Carolus", the Latin word for Charles, named after England's King Charles I.

Also check out Disasters and Heroic Rescues of North Carolina: True Stories of Tragedy and Survival (Disasters Series) by the same author.

Charlie Maze
May 7, 2008

In this collection, Scotti Kent really makes history come alive. I love historical fiction because it can be both entertaining and educational, and this book is much the same---except that these stories are true! I always thought of pirates as those dreaded marauders of the Mediterranean and Asia; who knew they were a menace back in the day here in the good 'ol U.S. of A. too? And as a Californian, I'm very familiar with the California gold rush but had no idea N.C. was once a gold rush mecca as well. The story of the '42 Rose Bowl in Durham following the attack on Pearl Harbor also came as a surprise to this native of Los Angeles. Interesting, amusing and informative.

As the author, I am pleased to announce that this book is being reprinted by the publisher. Its continued high sales are a testimony to its value and popularity with readers.

As a native North Carolinian, I particularly enjoyed reading about pirate Jean Lafitte who retired under an assumed name and lived out his life in peace and anonymity in Lincoln County, just two blocks from my homeplace. These are stories that I have heard recounted many times, and Kent tells them here with a freshness that makes them come alive.

The Journey of August King is a novel rich in description of the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. This book very well illustrates slavery and how it was dealt with as well as the kindness of the mountain people of that time.

Being from North Carolina myself, I am fully aware of how accurate the description is. The scenery makes you feel as if you are actually there with August King.

Also, I particularly enjoyed the portrayl of August King. He is showed as a very kind man, not unlike his neighbors, just having a bit more sympathy. He is not unhuman, either. He is portrayed as a man who has known hurt, loss, and love, though he does not recognize it.

As noted, his journey is a spiritual one to finally come to terms with the death of his wife. I like the way this is done, using tears even, to help us understand how he is accomplishing this.

Ehle's descriptions are both surreal and earthy. The characters are complex entities, they are not perfect. August is a hero almost by accident, and an ambigious one at that. The struggles August experiences with his attitudes vis-a-vis race forms a major catalyst in the story.

For individuals interested in historical fiction about Appalachia this is a must read.

On a historical sidenote, I've always liked Ehle's inclusion of Germans in his stories. It is a refreshing multiethnic approach from the general Scotch-Irish dominated stereotype of Appalachia history.

John Ehle makes you remember the NC mountains like no one else can. The roads and trails seem familiar because some of them still exist and perhaps you have been there. The people haven't changed all that much even though Ehle covers the time near the civil war. Yes, the story is good and keeps you interested. Yes, his writing flows well. But Ehle has always been somewhat of a regional writer because he understands the locals. I would love to go back to the black mountains, walk the trails and talk to the people there. Reading John Ehle is a close second.

I loved this book. I've read it many times. Each time I appreciate the beauty of the prose, the skillful character development, and the suspense of the plot. I like the contrast between the main characters' thought patterns and conversation: August's thoughts and words free-flow; Annalees' are more grounded and practical. I like the subtle differences in their speech patterns: it's like listening to a conversation. I also like the way Mr. Ehle has peppered his character's words with idioms and phrases from the time in which the book takes place. The scenes unfold with drama and picture-perfect description

I owned this book for three years, and after only recently picking it up to read it, I realized what I was missing out on during that time. This is a fresh and descriptive analysis of the young Virginia generation before, during, and after the war. As one who has read dozens of books on the Civil War, it was this one more than any other that best explains how and why Virginians formed their fundamental opinions of their native state, the Southern region, and Northern industrialism during the antebellum period. Through their viewpoint that Virginia's reputation and standing in the Union was diminished during the period prior to the war, it becomes clear that the war gave these young Virginians an opportunity to improve the status of their commonwealth while cementing their place among men in their state. Though one often gets the perception through Carmichael's writing that these were overzealous, egotistical young men, their conduct in the war brings to fruition their importance in the New South.

Carmichael's writing is interesting and well-detailed with a wide variety of excellent material from both primary and secondary sources. His inclusion of statistics on the members of the last generation provides ample insight into the professions, religious affiliation, and other important data on the members of the last generation. Even more than "For Cause and Comrades" by James McPherson, this book will expose why a reluctant Virginia joined the Confederacy and explains clearly how the young Virginia generation almost pushed the South to ultimate victory.

Like most readers of history, the significant figures of the Civil War have taken on almost mythic proportions. Some times they seem almost to be gods stepped down from Mt. Olympus. In The Last Generation, Peter Carmichael manages to shed new light onto the lives, interests, and beliefs of many of the young Virginians that were so caught up in the cause of the day and in the process makes them human once more.

I found The Last Generation to be full of information that is new...at least to me. I've done my share of reading about the major characters involved in the Civil War, on both sides. Yet Carmichael seems to provide the reader with new insights on almost every page.

I also found the tables in the appendix to be full of useful and eye opening facts. Trust me, they're worth the time it takes to study them. Finally, I spent more time than usual studying the notes provided by Carmichael, a compliment of the first order.

For the casual or serious Civil War buff, The Last Generation will be a memorable read.

In his book, "The Last Generation," Peter Carmichael explores the psyche, values, goals and visions of the young caucasian men of Virginia who came into adulthood just as our nation descended into the Civil War. Born to privilege in the 1830s and early 1840s, these men were in colleges and schools across Virginia and the nation when the crisis of secession reached its apex in 1860 and 1861. Once the war started, they served as junior officers in the Army of Northern Virginia, leading their peers into combat and fighting alongside them.

The book is a generational study and an examination of Confederate nationalism in the young Virginians. Carmichael first takes us through the 1850s, a time when young Virginians worried about the future of their state and their place in it. They watched as the North increasingly distanced itself from Virginia through industrialization and internal improvements. They feared that Virginia, the home state of four of the first five U.S. presidents, was becoming moribund under the leadership of its elders, "old fogies" who lived on past glories of events such as the American Revolution and who encouraged unthinking opposition to change even at the expense of educational and economic reform.

At the same time, the young Virginians had to find a way to reconcile slavery, the system upon which they depended for their wealth and social standing, with the free labor system of the North. Some of the strongest points in Carmichael's book delineate how these men did just this. Their belief that slavery was sanctioned by the Bible as necessary because God had created races to be inherently unequal, coupled with their belief that Southerners were God's chosen people, sustained many young soldiers throughout the war. Even as it became clear in 1864 and 1865 that the war would be lost, Carmichael cites examples that show these men could not distinguish between their religious beliefs and political nationalism. To the end, many young Virginians believed that God would not allow the North to be victorious. Young Virginians sincerely believed that theirs was a unique Christian society trying to survive in a godless world. The book is careful to point out that young Virginians gave considerable thought to secession and do not fit the traditional stereotype of secondary scholars who say young Southerners were drawn to the flame of secession like boys playing with fire.

The book looks at the leadership style of young Virginians once the war started. Examples are cited of how they maintained order and discipline in the ranks, what they thought of battle and death, and how they maintained their morale through defeats. Some colorful anecdotes are also included in "The Last Generation": Jeb Stuart's thoughts on women while he was a cadet in West Point, NY; the president of Washington College and his comical attempt to control the secession frenzy sweeping his campus; the notion of body building by young Virginians in college as a way to "muscularize" and "masculinize" their Christianity.

In the final chapter of the book, Carmichael examines the fate of various members of the Last Generation who managed to survive the war. He explains how they adjusted to Reconstruction. The romanticized, "Moonlight and Magnolias" view of some ex-Confederates is contrasted with those who wished Virginia to take a new role of leadership and have the economy of the state resemble more closely that of the North.

This book contributes greatly to the discussion of why some Southerners fought the war- a question which will probably always be debated. Through diligent research and thorough explanation, Carmichael presents a new picture of a generation of Southerners of the Civil War era. His book takes into account many factors that made "The Last Generation" distinct from their Northern counterparts and from the older Virginians who preceded them. It is an important book on dispelling stereotypes of the young Confederates and in understanding the complexity of the South as a whole.

In this fascinating book, author and historian Professor Peter S. Carmichael takes a generational look a particular group of American men who fought in the Civil War, selecting 121 men who had been born in Virginia between 1830 and 1842. These men were mostly highly educated, from the slave holding class, and formed the junior officer core of the Virginia military units. These men were part of the last generation to grow up in Virginia with slavery, and the story of their journey of life is one little studied, until now.

As a fan of the works of Messrs Strauss and Howe ("Generations" and "The Fourth Turning"), I was intrigued to see another book that looked at American history with an eye to generations. The book is eminently readable, and is quite fascinating. The author does an excellent job of telling the story of the "last generation," bringing them and their experiences alive. I was interested to watch the "last generation" move through the 1850s fostering a inter-generational conflict, assume capable and pragmatic managerial control of the armies their elders led, and then move into leadership positions after the War.

In relation to the Strauss and Howe generational theory, this book focuses on a part of the Gilded Generation. Overall, I thought that the book complemented it very well, showing that side of the generation that lost the war.

So, let me just say that this is a fascinating look at a generation that lived during a fascinating time in American history, one that will captivate anyone who is interested in generations, the American Civil War, or just plain history. I loved this book and highly recommend it to you.

If you love basketball you are going to enjoy this book. It's a play by play of a championship team, their trials, tribulations, and trophy.

I bought the book just because I am a fan, but I am very pleased with its overall quality. It's a well-made hardcover book with durable sewn binding. Printed on thick, glossy paper, the large color photographs look bright and extremely sharp. The book includes Woody Durham's broadcast on 2 CDs. The book is not organized into game-by-game stories like the News and Observer's book. Instead, it has two main sections. First is a section of essays on various topics like "Workdays in Maui," "Senior Day," and "Two Steps to St. Louis." Second is a section of essays by all five members of the coaching staff and eight of the regular players. The book also includes an essay by Dean Smith, a record of the season, and list of awards and honors.

Instead of a game by game retelling, the book is more in story format. It's very well done.

There are two great things about this book. The first being the freshness of the information. When a team wins a championship, the win is almost covered to death so to speak, so I was definately pleasantly suprised when the book contained many stories that I had not yet heard. Secondly, and probably the best thing about the book was the complete Tarheel Sports Network radio broadcast of the Championship game and the post-game press conferences. This book is a must for any Tarheel fan, and the CD is something you will listen to over and over.

I can't really add much to what has already been said by Cousin John. Dr. Allen has brought from the backgound to the forefront a true Son of the South and hero of America.

The book, as has been noted above is excellent - about an excellent man who really wanted to be nothing but a farmer. From his position of wealth and prestige he could have accepted a high rank in the Confederate Army. Being a practical and honest man who would have no truck with losing men because of his inexperience, he chose to take a lower rank (Major) so he could learn from a West Point trained Army Officer. When Harrell Allen wrote this book he relied upon a publisher that was not up to the task of publishing a book - one that did a terrible job in setting the print and then proof reading his work. There are lots of mispellings and transposed illustration labels - for example mixing up the label of the picture of Bryan Grimes and his brother William in their 20's. Some chapters clearly got proof read, others clearly did not. It is a shame the publisher, in doing such a poor job of the mechanics of publishing this book have somehow reflected poor credit on Mr. Allen's excellent work. Despite the awkward typos' this is a wonderful book about the life and times of an honest man who honestly believed he was serving his country and did a damned good job of it.

This is a great biography of one of the South's best fighting generals. Bryan Grimes was the last person Lee recommended for appointment to the rank of Major General and thus the title of the book.
Bryan Grimes was born into a wealthy plantation family in North Carolina in 1828. He was educated at the University of North Carolina and had little military experience before the war. But he rose from lower officer ranks to general's rank during the course of the war. He had six horses shot out from under him as he led his men across the fields of battle; yet he was never seriously hurt during the war. He participated in many of the major battles in Virginia.
The author was assisted in writing this book by what he describes as a "treasure trove" of letters written by Grimes and written to him during the war, which are located at various archives in North Carolina. This primary source material gives the book a sense of immediatecy when describing Grimes's life during this period.
The book has many interesting anecdotes such as the time Grimes's soldiers recovered some bags of Yankee mail. Included were some letters written by Gen. George A. Custer to his wife and from his wife to him. Gen. Grimes in a letter to his wife, described Gen. Custer's letters as being "vulgar beyond all conversation" and those from Gen. Custer's wife as letters that "would make any honest woman blush".
Another interesting anecdote describes Gen Grimes's return to North Carolina after Lee's surrender. Passing through scenes of destruction of civilian property, Gen Grimes and his companions came across an old man who was by the ruins of his home. The Yankees had destroyed his home, scattered and destroyed its contents, shot his yearling, his mule colt and even his dog! Is it any wonder that people in the South hated people from the North for generations?
Strangely, after surviving the war, Gen. Grimes was murdered in 1880. The author describes his murder, the surrounding circumstances and its aftermath in great detail, including the trials of the accused. This book will be the best source for information on Gen. Grimes's murder for years to come.
The author obviously liked and understood his subject. This is one of the best biographies of a Confederate general that I have ever read. This book is well worth the full five stars and I recommend it highly.

I had heard about this new biography and picked it up at a local book store. The author did a great job with this book, and finally someone has taken the time to present an excellent and fresh new history of General Grimes. So many books today say the same thing about the same officers. This book is based on hundreds of family letters, and so is very personal and exciting reading. It also has some great photos and detailed maps that are really good. There are a few typos in the book, but so what. I would rather read something new and original than the same old Pickett's Charge re-hash. Thanks to both the author and publisher for making this book available! I highly recommend it.