Growing Up Hard in Harlan County [Paperback]

G.C. Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 7, 2004

G.C. "Red" Jones's classic memoir of growing up in rural eastern Kentucky during the Depression is a story of courage, persistence, and eventual triumph. His priceless and detailed recollections of hardscrabble farming, of the impact of Prohibition on an individualistic people, of the community-destroying mine wars of "Bloody Harlan," and of the drastic dislocations brought by World War II are essential to understanding this seminal era in Appalachian history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The great quality of 'Red' Jones's Growing Up Hard in Harlan County is its authenticity. The reader will know that this book came from the heart and that the author experienced every sentence he relates." -- Harry M. Caudill

"Jones shows all of us that fierce determination, lived day by day, can lead to a satisfying life, even though it might be hard." -- Kentucky Monthly

"In a modest, straightforward manner, and in language that speaks volumes about his mountain upbringing, the author adopts the role of master storyteller and draws the reader into a sometimes frightening world of survival." -- Lexington Herald-Leader

"A vivid and moving testament to G.C. 'Red' Jones' efforts to win the personal, financial, and political battles that filled his years." -- Manchester (KY) Enterprise

"Depicts an important era in eastern Kentucky history.... He is a good writer, too. You will find the book engrossing reading." -- Mountain Eagle

"An absorbing tale told in the vernacular language of the teamsters, farmers and miners in rural, mountainous Kentucky in the early decades of this century. The narrative flows with the symmetry that comes naturally to the accomplished storyteller." -- Washington Post

About the Author

The G.C. Jones (1913-1988) retired from the construction industry in Florida.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (February 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813190800
• ISBN-13: 978-0813190808
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #582,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars life of a self made man, September 19, 2002

By 

cj (florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing Up Hard in Harlan County (Hardcover)

A must to read........
I felt I was there with him. I was eating the food and drinking the cold buttermilk. I could hear the heavy breathing of the mules going up the mountains of eastern Kentucky. This is a simple and straight look at a true and honest man, who taught himself and those around him that you choose your path in life. His seemed to be rewarded with an abundance of love.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insight on my family., April 3, 2007

By 

Jay "Jay" (Louisville, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing Up Hard in Harlan County (Paperback)

I came across this book recently when the family home was in the process of being sold. It was a gift from my mother to my father, my father being born and spending part of his childhood in Harlan County, KY. I held onto it, and eventually got time to read it. As I got through most of the book, I found some interesting parallels in Mr. Jones' life and some of my family history. I was unaware of the history of "bloody Harlan," and learning about it, even if at this moment from only one voice, gave me a lot of insight on my family that I did not have before, and helped me understand how my family got to where it is now.

I HIGHLY recommend this book, to anyone who has ties to Harlan County, KY, easter Kentucky in general, or for anyone who enjoys the stories of a man who never knew the meaning of a vacation.

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is hard to forget, December 6, 2009

By 

Miss Climpson (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Growing Up Hard in Harlan County (Paperback)

I read this book many years ago when it first was published in hard cover and I've never forgotten it. Highly recommended, especially for anyone nostalgic for the "old days."