North Carolina Books

Ghosts and Legends of the Carolina Coasts, Terrance Zepke's latest in her best-selling series of ghost tales books, is, if possible, her best yet. She's evidently been poking around in some spooky places, because she's stirred-up more lively ghosts for us to love, pity, fear and, yes -always- chill to, in these twenty-eight tales and legends from her beloved North and South Carolina shores.

Included throughout the book, and almost rivaling the actual tales, are bountiful historical facts; explicit directions (and the occasional warning) for visiting the ghost sites and museums; numerous websites to send us off on our own myriad ghost-searches; and intriguing, atmospheric illustrations setting the stage for each haunting tale. In other words, there is something fascinating for everyone, whether you are a ghost tale buff, travel enthusiast, or just curious to find out what this popular "ghost-craze" is all about. You'll be hooked, I guarantee it!

All I can say is that this sequel was everything I could have hoped for; readers of Angel Doll will embrace this book as well.

I enjoy these authors and like this series. If you haven't read their book Dead as a Scone don't miss it as that series is my favorite by them.

Cy & Jeannie Martin give you a crash course in the history and practice of gold mining in the western U.S. (including Alaska), Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. Sections of the book include: Chronology of Gold in America; How to Pan for Gold; Tales of Gold Rushes; Directory of Old Mining Camps; Glossary; and a Selected Bibliography. Numerous B& W photos and drawings are included. 160 pages.

I really enjoy this series and found Gone to Glory to be a great addition to it. The characters were warm and believable, and the story took some unexpected twists. Although the plot deals with things like con men, financial fraud and murder, another part of the story deals with the undercover investigator's gradual change. The ending was very satisfying. I highly recommend Gone to Glory.

I was luck enough to find a copy of this book in print and found it to be very well written and very informative. It shows a whole new sphere of life in Salem, NC.

This was a great look back into North Carolina's famous past within politics. Its look into the life of Governor O. Max Gardner was amazing and really high-lighted his real genious in building the Southern Democratic Party starting in the 1920's. After reading this book, you almost feel as if you are part of the story.

While some in the Civil War community complain of "Chamberlain fatigue," it is difficult to gripe about this marvelous new collection of postwar correspondence from one of the most articulate officers on either side of the conflict.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain survived the Civil War - including a horrible wound at Petersburg - to become one of Maine's most prominent citizens. His postwar career included four terms as governor of Maine, a stint as president of Bowdoin College, numerous business enterprises, and perhaps most importantly, many years as a writer and lecturer on his Civil War experiences.

The correspondence included by editor Jeremiah Goulka covers nearly every aspect of Chamberlain's personal and professional life. Chamberlain's heartfelt letters to his family, especially those to his wife Fannie, reveal him to be a loving, thoughtful husband and father. His relationship with Fannie, stormy and difficult though it was for many years, survived numerous crises until Fannie's death in 1905.

Chamberlain's Civil War experiences transformed him, and his separation from the army often left him feeling restless. In 1870, Chamberlain wrote to the King of Prussia and offered his services in Prussia's war with France. In 1898, Chamberlain contacted the Secretary of War to volunteer for the Spanish-American War. Even with all his postwar positions and projects, Chamberlain never quite filled the space in his soul left empty by the end of the Civil War.

Critics of Chamberlain, in his lifetime and in our own time, claim that he inflated his role at Little Round Top in an attempt to horde the glory of that important engagement. At least one letter included in this volume refutes this criticism. In a January 1910 letter to Union veteran and author Oliver W. Norton, Chamberlain says of his brigade commander, Strong Vincent, "He was a noble man, and I have not known an abler commander in his grade. Nothing could exceed his skill and energy in taking the position on Little Round Top and the confidence he inspired in his subordinates. To this the result of the fight on the left at Round Top is very largely due [emphasis added]."

The correspondence also clarifies an often incorrectly reported fact concerning the July 1913 fiftieth anniversary reunion at Gettysburg. Chamberlain, while he visited Gettysburg in May as a member of the planning commission, did not attend the July reunion. Chamberlain's doctor strongly urged him not to go due to his declining health, and he stayed behind in Maine.

Rather than being castigated for his prolific eloquence, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain deserves the timeless thanks of everyone who studies the Civil War. Jeremiah Goulka deserves thanks as well, for his skillful editing, and for giving us a deeper understanding of a genuine American hero.

Granville County is large in size, but could barely fill Kenan Stadium on a good day. It is in the shadow of North Carolina's Research Triangle
Park and will face immense growth in the coming years as Mayberry finds itself in the path of progress. Lewis Bowling gives us a poignant look back at some of the famous faces from its past.

"Grassroots Garveyism" is one of the best books I've read on the organizing traditions of the Garveyites!!!! Many young itinerate preachers, like Malcolm X's mother and father, were organizers. It provides a class analysis of the membership, supported by the census--workers, peasants and tenant farmers and farm workers--also many in port cities involved & exploited in maritime industry--as well as many labor organizers. In contrast to Judith Stein's class analysis, this is a powerful revision of the UNIA story--less speculation, more analysis. Above all, Mary Rolinson does a powerful analysis of the symbolic politics of self-emancipation, self-respect and self-defense at the grassroots.


Komozi Woodard
Professor of History, Africana Studies & Public Policy
Sarah Lawrence College
Author of "A Nation Within a Nation."