Mountains Within Me

by Zell Miller

That description of the valley where I was born and grew up is still an accurate one. The physical appearance of the valley is now dotted with homes, roads and electric lines, but the breathtaking beauty of the mountains has changed very little. There were few white men in the valley in 1836. John Bryson and Alton Kirby had come in a few years earlier. Today there are only a few hundred more--still some Brysons and Kirbys--but the population is still relatively sparse. It was in this scantily populated village that my hopes were lifted and my ability to cope were nurtured.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Zell Bryan Miller is an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. Elected as a Democrat, Miller served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975 to 1990, Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as United States Senator from 2000 to 2005.

Although a member of the Democratic Party, Miller backed Republican President George W. Bush over Democratic nominee John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election and since 2003 has frequently criticized the Democratic Party, and has publicly supported several Republican candidates. In 2006, Miller did voice-overs (narrations) for Republican candidate commercials in Georgia state elections (George "Sonny" Perdue and Ralph Reed).

Miller did not seek re-election in 2004. After leaving the Senate he joined the law firm McKenna Long & Aldridge, in the firm's national Government Affairs practice. Miller is also a frequent Fox News Channel contributor.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed learning about Zell Miller's background and political beginnings. North Georgia mountain towns came to life as he mentioned their local customs and familiar names. This book has actually become a memory for me as it is now a part of the mountains within me, too.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down. Penned by Zell Miller in 1975 and published in 1976, long before he was elected Governor of Georgia, it is a celebration of his roots growing up in Young Harris, GA. He attended Young Harris College and later returned there to teach. Chapters are devoted to the college itself and its history. Especially intriguing to me was the chapter on North Georgia dialects, which are considered to be one tongue removed from Chaucer's old English and Shakespearean language. He also discusses the progress of the area, as well as folklore and customs and mountain farming. Miller also holds a Master's Degree in History from the University of Georgia and is well equipped to discuss the history of both the state and the region. (Pre-read for teaching 8th grade Georgia history; required reading for HH; Call number GA 975.81 Miller)

[Teri Drake-Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Zell Miller as a kid - he came to my Elementary school as governor and I got to shake his hand. I seem to also remember some exercise he did with pennies (I wish I could remember more about this!). He was a very nice man.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. He goes into wonderful detail about mountain life, giving lots of insight and quirky anecdotes. I especially enjoyed reading about the origins of the mountain names, as well as the process of making moonshine, the food people ate, and their connection to Shakespeare and Chaucer. Very helpful in my research!