Yessir, I've Been Here a Long Time: The Faces and Words of Americans Who Have Lived a Century

by George Mitchell

Yessir, I've been here a long The faces and words of Americans who have lived a century

124 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

George Mitchell lived for most of his life in Atlanta, Georgia. Mitchell is the author of nine documentary books with photographs, his most recent hardback being MISSISSIPPI HILL COUNTRY BLUES 1967. He considers his major work to be his recently published ebook, RONDA: AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF A SOUTHERN STREET PROSTITUTE, Volumes One and Two, which, during his summer breaks and his spare time, he spent 33 years writing.

He has worked as a newspaper reporter and editor, a counselor and street-worker stationed in Atlanta’s hippie district, a folklorist specializing in recording blues musicians for record albums, and as a high school photography teacher.

He now lives in his infant-hood home of Fort Myers, Florida, with his wife, Cathy.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction hasn't made me feel so upbeat in a long time. This is a compilation of short oral histories and photos of people who were over 100 in 1972, many much older, old enough to have been or owned slaves. The pieces vary in length but overall have such a hopeful tone - that things are pretty good, and that the subjects are generally pleased to have lived so long. There is an amazing cross-section of US society as well, and the interviewees talk about many different things, not just their own histories. I discarded this from my middle school library this year after several years seeing if I could display it or relocate it to entice any kids, with no luck, but I think I'll keep it around my own collection for a while to see if any students of teachers need it so I might have an excuse to add it back into the collection.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting combination book of stories of people who had lived to at least 100 years old. The group consisted of many people who were born during or shortly after the Civil War. There were northerners and southerners who remembered the war years. A few people were single all of their lives but most had had a spouse. It is worth looking at a few of the stories if not the entire book.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE!

This is a truly fascinating read. Not an easy book to find, but worth it. The woman on the cover (and the inspiration for the title) is my Great-Great Grandmother. She was 109 years old at the time of her interview/pictures.

This book tells brief stories from people over the age of 100 in their own words. Each person is from a different place, each story is unique. Both heart-warming and heart-breaking. It's a quick read that can be finished in less than an hour.