Synopses & Reviews
Review
"With
The Appalachians, Mari-Lynn Evans set out to explore the world of her forebears -- a world her grandparents had taught her to be proud of, but one she wanted to discover for herself before its culture faded any further. She came back with a definitive portrait of this gorgeous and little known American frontier that comes to life in her PBS series, and in a way, even more so in this accompanying volume."
Michael Shnayerson, author of "Coal River" and contributing editor to
Vanity Fair Review
"The Appalachians is a love letter to a place and its people. With an obvious devotion to the people, places and history of the region, The Appalachians eloquently portrays this beautiful, rugged place where man is shaped by mountains and mountains by men, where the heart of the American character has been forged by the deep history of this place and where the human spirit has triumphed time and again over seemingly insurmountable forces. The Appalachians presents a microcosm of the American story."
Shirley Stewart Burns, author of Bringing Down the Mountains & editor of Coal Country
Synopsis
A beautifully produced companion volume to the public television documentary The Appalachians fills the void in information about the region, offering a rich portrait of its history and its legacy in music, literature, and film. The text includes essays by some of Appalachia’s most respected scholars and journalists; excerpts from never-before-published diaries and journals; firsthand recollections from native Appalachians including Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs, and Ralph Stanley; indigenous song lyrics and poetry; and oral histories from common folk whose roots run strong and deep. The book also includes more than one hundred illustrations, both archival and newly created. Here is a wondrous book celebrating a unique and valuable heritage.
About the Author
Mari-Lynn is Executive Producer of many films including
Coal Country for Discovery Planet Green.
Robert Santelli is the author of seven books, including
The Big Book of Blues, and is the coeditor of
American Roots Music.
Holly George-Warren served from 1993 to 2001 as editor of
Rolling Stone Press, where she oversaw the creation of forty books, including
The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll.