The French Broad

Rivers of America #50

by Wilma Dykeman

The French Broad has been called the classic example of an Appalachian mountain river and like most of the mountain region which surrounds it, nourishes paradox. That is the source of much of its allure- and despair. The French Broad is part of the famous Rivers of America Series published by Holt, Rinehart. There are more than 50 volumes in the series. In 1997, The French Broad was one of five honored by the Library of Congress at its Center for the Book.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Nature, Natural History, Book Club

371 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Wilma Dykeman Stokely was an American writer of fiction and nonfiction whose works chronicled the people and land of Appalachia.

Reviews

[Jeffrey]

Great stories about a fascinating region.

[Chad]

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book, it's a great history of an area and a people. It starts with the earliest recorded European explorers and follows the people and the country of Western NC and Eastern TN up until the days of Carl Sandburg. The book was written by Asheville native Wilma Dykeman and published in 1955 as part of a series of 50 books about famous American rivers, of the 50 five were honored by the Library of Congress, including this one. The stories are so endearing, it makes you feel as if you had walked through the mountains and talked to these folks yourself. It's also a little sad when she talks of pollution and springs that have run dry, I can only hope the rivers are being cared for a little better now.

[LeeAnn]

It's a bit rare to find a book that can give you the history of a place, and at the same time provide a sense of the atmosphere and the culture through the ages. Dykeman tells stories and provides little vignettes of each time period that really capture the essence of life in the area through time.

She also writes exceptionally well, and while some writers use descriptive language that can let you see a place in your mind's eye, she has a talent for applying that to people so that you feel as if you have actually met the folks whose history she tells.

[Rick]

I lived in the southern Appalachians for nine years. This is a wonderful history of the area, centered around the iconic French Broad River. Starting with native Cherokee and progressing to the 1950's, each chapter adds to the story.

[Kim]

Excellent account of local history. Well written, and very interesting. Definitely deepens my appreciation of my local area. Well worth the read, and I absolutely suggest this book to anyone living in, or interested in WNC, or Eastern TN.

[Ginger K]

Impossible to review. It is so of the time it was written. I am annoyed by the trite cliches about mountain people. I want to cut her so much slack because of the time and context when she was writing. And, she is a local hero and an important Ashevillian and I want to respect her as that.

Ultimately I enjoyed the first rough half of the book - little bit of natural history and more distant human history - but couldn't stick with the second half which was all "local color" and nostalgia and too-cute characters.

[Ann Adams]

Probably having met the author years ago at a Writer's Conference in Appalacha influenced my intrigue! LOTS of info but well written. I think my fave chapter i(#10) involved a fervent old time preacher, speaking to a heat- oppressed crowd, with the real soul-splitting, happy-shouting kind of religion. ....not mamby-pamby low voiced stuff. Becasuse, brother, I'm a-telling you straight , you've got to take the tonic of God and eat the whole word that will put some zip in your soul..."(p. 310)
He reminded those of a bone-deep thirst for God's word as similar to theirs for the little 6oz, green bottle of Coca-Cola. (a long-time fave of mine) His conclusion without God's word one can end up in the muck and mire of hell where there ain't no relief....."There ain't no fans, nor no rest and, brother, there ain't no Cokes in hell." (p. 313)

[Bruce Mulkey]

Essential reading if you live in southern Appalachia, especially Western North Carolina or East Tennessee. Written by Wilma Dykeman, The French Broad, was published in 1955 as part of the Holt Rinehart Rivers of America Series. Dykeman is sometimes credited with saving the oldest river in the world--the French Broad River.

[Kale Woods]

Wonderful book. Ms. Dykeman is a superb storyteller and writer. Bought the book after vacationing near Gatlinburg and was intrigued by the history of the area. She provides tremendous insight to the history of a part of the country with which I had zero knowledge, but also (and more importantly) to the people. Well worth the read.

[Michael Clifford]

Excellent book about the history of the French Broad river, its surroundings and its people. This book was written in the 1960s so one of the most interesting parts for me is how Asheville has changed in the last 60 years!

[Myra Flowers]

This is my sixth book in the Rivers of America series. I always say reading this series is like sitting on the porch in a rocker listening to an old friend tell about their home. Ms Dykeman is a wonderful writer who captures all the splendor and as struggles of this region. She knows the area well and conveys some much about it all. The NYT reviewer says, "sound, flavorsome Americana." History, flora and fauna, water lore, culture, religion, geology, I could go on and on. My favorite chapter is the last one, "The Chattering Children."

[Mirra Price]

Will review later.

[Krista]

Enjoyed reading about the area. I liked Dykeman's writing style. It is written mid-century, yet I found it an enjoyable read.

[Lauren Smith]

Definitely skipped some sections but will also definitely return to the book.

[Cinda]

Classic text on the French Broad watershed, its history and present-day (1950s) challenges. This was a wonderful resource for someone wanting to learn more about the region that I call home.

[Bram Pinkley]

Crazy to read this just prior to the worst flood on record. But it served as a wonderful key to the geography and history of our new home.

[Chenoa]

The middle 50% was horribly boring. I just could not care less about the Stokelys and Vanderbilts 🤢 If this hadn’t been a book club pick, there’s no way I would have slogged through all the local color writing.

The beginning and end (especially the environmental bits) were more interesting. I realize Dykeman is an important author. She does sometimes write a great turn of phrase.

[Evan]

This is such a great way of exploring the people and land of the Appalachia. Like many of these nature-writing books about the Appalachia, it all feels very personal despite the large amount of ground the book covers.

It is this personal-ness that highlights the most important part of the book, that is, that the people that have inhabited the Appalachia are just as important as the land. In fact, they are one and the same thing, and anything that impacts one will impact the other. This is what Dykeman seems to think makes the Appalachia unique, and this book convincingly demonstrates and explores that notion.

There are also some lovely bits of writing here. Both descriptions of the land and sections of storytelling stand out as better than most non-fiction and history writing.

[Laura]

After working one summer on the FB, I figured I should approach the next summer knowin a bit more about the river. This woman is the real deal. She knows Agiqua. From Cherokee legends surrounding the river to startup enterprises that always seem to fail, this book covers it all. If you paddle the Broad you already know that river has soul, this book reveals just how deeply soulful the FB really is.

[Jenny]

Dykeman tells the history of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee by following one of its major waterways from beginning to end. She achieved a major triumph of early environmentalism by fighting and winning the right to include a chapter on the pollution of the French Broad river in this book.

[David Ward]

The French Broad by Wilma Dykeman (Rhinehart and Co. 1955) (917.68). The French Broad is a mountain river in North Carolina and Tennessee that drains the basin between the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge. This is the story of the river and the people that settled its valleys. My rating: 7/10, finished 2007.

[Carol868]

Very interesting if you want to read the history of WNC in relation to the French Broad River's influence. Wonderful first half...lost interest after that and finished by reading between books that were more enjoyable.

[Matthew T]

Great for micro american history. A must read if you visit or live in the region of THE FRENCH BROAD
The title of the book may give an incorrect impression of what you are going to read...get your mind out of the gutter and read some Western Carolina and Eastern Tennessee history!

[Tim Jarrett]

If you want to understand the mountains and their people, you could do far worse than read this book. The chapter on Jesse James Bailey, only man to be sheriff of two counties in the same state and the man who gave my uncle his job, is worth the price of admission.

[Joy Pansiera]

An intriguing factual history of the Blue Ridge/ Smokey Mountain area in the days of the Cherokee.
So much great information. Hard for me to get thru after a certain point. I might try to get it as an audiobook to finish.

[Bobbi]

A very entertaining book whether you live near this river or not.

[Jack]

Read this in North Carolina at my and Wilma Dykeman's college. Brilliant before it's time.

[Richard Evert]

Should be titled "The French Broad River."

Very informative & appealing.

[Annette]

Ten years ago sister Linda gave me Wilma Dykeman's The Tall Woman, and I enjoyed it so much. Now I've read this title for the College Walk book group, and it was such a pleasure! I've just started the Hillbilly Elegy, and I'm struck by the similarities of concerns.