A sweeping saga of Kentucky history from early pioneer days to the mid 1900s, The Dark and Bloody Ground is the story of five generations who strive to create a paradise in the Big Sandy Valley that had been heralded as the world's greatest, raw resource area. The Edwards family loses two sons to the civil war and their beautiful daughter, Amy to Levi Cantrell, a rogue, philanderer and bootlegger. Levi creates a moonshine dynasty in a well-hidden, splendorous cave while two revenue agents mysteriously die in the vicinity. Levi and Amy's second son, Ben, is Levi's secret weapon, and they keep the secret even from Ben himself. In 1911, eastern moguls sweep into the isolated area to mine a mammoth coalfield and bring with them a modern town that threatens Levi's kingdom. Prohibition arrives and so does Judge Wesley Adams, a man attempting to atone for his one errant act of madness. Adams raises the ire of revenue agents when he becomes friends with Ben Cantrell. Ben's son, Thomas, inherits his father's unique gift and survives World War II because of it.
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Roberta Webb grew up in southeastern Kentucky. She worked on the first atomic bomb in Oakridge, Tennessee. After graduating from Nursing School, she became a psychiatric supervisor at the University of Georgia, then worked for several years with her husband in his practice of psychiatry. A mother and grandmother, she now lives on a ranch in Texas pursuing her dream of writing. This is her first novel.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read!,
By
This review is from: The Dark and Bloody Ground (Paperback)
When Morgan Collier moved his family from Ohio to the untamed wilderness of Kentucky he had no idea of what would befall his family. The Dark and Bloody Ground travels the generations of this family thru Civil War, world wars, and prohibition, the passing of fathers and sons and the events that fortified them. . Based on fact with an interesting blend of fiction the book was impossible to put down. So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable and enjoy!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed the read very much. Happy to recommend.,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Dark and Bloody Ground (Paperback)
The story opens with a melancholic appeal, -Please don't go, Morgan-.
The year was 1840, Morgan Collier was resolute; he and his family were leaving at daybreak for the trek into southeastern Kentucky. From that beginning we journey with the Collier family as they enter the expedition leading to the place where they will reside in the natural beauty of an area filled with vitality, liveliness and splendor. On the pages of her first work of fiction Author Webb has fashioned a charming work of historical fiction. The Dark And Bloody Ground is overflowing with profusely detailed characters who refuse to accept hindrances. The perfect example of Kentucky strength is portrayed eloquently, devoid of pretense. Morgan Collier's father John was working as blacksmith apprentice in England before his arrival to Boston in the early 1800s. He soon established himself as a master craftsman. It was Boston where he met and married his wife, Ingrid Thorsen. Soon the pair journeyed to Ohio where they settled down, built a home and raised their family. Ingrid was overcome with a sense of premonition, she was certain that she would never see her beloved son again. 1828 had found eighteen year old Morgan marrying his sixteen year old neighbor Liddy Kreiger. Now, a dozen years later, Morgan was all set to set out with his wife and three young daughters ages seven, nine and ten for the wild, untamed Kentucky mountains, friend Calvin Kelly, the Collier's most frequent and value customer during the years of 1805 - 1807 had talked of during his visits to Ohio. Set in Kentucky, The Dark And Bloody Ground is a history of five generations of one family. Writer Webb proves her talent as she illustrates the assorted characters, manages to keep them in line as she intertwines through time and generation and adroitly creates a plot that is fascinating, motivating, and furthers reader concentration through clashes, prohibition and bootlegging, the dreadfulness of the war between the state, and later world wars, births of children and deaths of fathers and sons and the myriad episodes of life that strengthened them as the generations continue. Coal mining and the rigors the family tolerates in a potent and evolving land are all part of the tale. Much of the work relates how the family adjusts to mountain living in the wilds of unfamiliar land. The day by day struggles the family meet focus the narrative and move the chronicle forward. Morgan's daughter, Sarah, marries the son of one of the family's neighbors. From that point; a great deal of the sequence of events focuses on this particular pair, their four sons and one daughter, Amy. Amy in turn marries the son of another neighbor, and the couple produces seven sons. Amy's husband, Levi, launches a successful moonshine production, which thrives during nationwide prohibition, foils all revenue agent endeavors and leaves the family very wealthy. The account follows Levi's whole family, while remaining focused on Ben, his wife and their family. Learning to acclimatize to the natural untamed surroundings facing accomplishment involving elemental and human enemies, and the power of familial bond all continue the fast pace narrative onward. Morgan's heritage is secured when his daughter Sarah gives birth to her own daughter. Amy will be the mother of Ben Cantrell, Morgan's progeny, and grandmother of Thomas, Ben's son. In due course, the all-embracing record of Kentucky record from early pioneer days to the mid 1900s, The Dark and Bloody Ground is the account of five generations who go all-out to build a paradise in the Big Sandy Valley. The Dark And Bloody Ground offers a wide-ranging account of Kentucky all the way through the mid-twentieth century from the pen of a gifted Kentucky native. I enjoyed the read very much. Happy to recommend. Molly Martin Reviewer
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid praise for "The Dark and Bloody Ground",
By
This review is from: The Dark and Bloody Ground (Paperback)
Roberta Webb has produced a fine piece of historical fiction in her first novel. "The Dark and Bloody Ground" has richly developed characters who struggle with the obstacles of their era. Ms. Webb captured the essence of the spirit of the people of Kentucky; allowing the reader a glimpse without the usual cliches. The novel is well researched with an overview of the history and resources of the area, but is especially informative with regard to the mining industry. Find a comfortable chair in a cozy corner and be prepared to read cover to cover! You won't want to put it down.
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