High Mountains Rising: Appalachia in Time and Place

by Richard A. Straw, H. Tyler Blethen

This collection is the first comprehensive, cohesive volume to unite Appalachian history with its culture. Richard A. Straw and H. Tyler Blethen's High Mountains Rising provides a clear, systematic, and engaging overview of the Appalachian timeline, its people, and the most significant aspects of life in the region. The first half of the fourteen essays deal with historical issues including Native Americans, pioneer settlement, slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, industrialization, the Great Depression, migration, and finally, modernization. The remaining essays take a more cultural focus, addressing stereotypes, music, folklife, language, literature, and religion. Bringing together many of the most prestigious scholars in Appalachian studies, this volume has been designed for general and classroom use, and includes suggestions for further reading.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Lizz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my class on Appalachian History. It was a very interesting book, and not at all what I expected for a typical text book assigned by a professor. Rather than a standard text book style where it just lays the history out, this book is a collection of essays on different topics pertaining to Appalachian History and culture. It's a fantastic and interesting read if you are at all interested in Appalachia.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was assigned reading for my Appalachian History class. While it is chalk full for useful information, the writing is so dry that I never finished each chapter because I'd fallen asleep.

[Sam Motes · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Mountains Rising is an interesting collection of essays that covers key dynamics that have interacted to define the Appalachian region of the US. The chapters of the story of the Appalachian biography starts with the Cherokee peoples early beginnings, the population by peoples of Celtic ancestry, the infusion of other races and peoples as the calling of good paying jobs in the Coal mining industry beckoned, to the crushing impact of automation and poverty leading to mass migration patterns out of the area to the government interventions, religious influence, to the modern day proud people. It was a moving read that has me wanting to know more.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

text book excellent

[John Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great! Good progression and flow in these essays.