Keepsakes for the Heart: An Historical Biography [Paperback]

Amelia Ruth Townsend (Author), Dink Shackleford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

Sarah Bishop Hart, a small, gentle woman from the hills of Southwest Virginia, was born into a world without hope. When she was five years old, her father hired her out to a family she had never met. From that day, Sarah never knew a real home or what it was like to have a true family. Keepsakes for the Heart sets the life of Sarah Bishop Hart against the mountains and the coal mines, The Great Depression and two World Wars, the women’s movement, and other upheavals of the 20th century. Sarah’s simple mountain philosophy offers a lesson to anyone who has ever thought about giving up.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Amelia Townsend has worked as a television news reporter, a writer, and a freelance producer and editor.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 222 pages
• Publisher: Overmountain Press (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570722013
• ISBN-13: 978-1570722011
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,533,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Story and What A History Lesson!, July 1, 2003

By 

Lorene "Reader in NC" (The mountains of Western North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keepsakes for the Heart: An Historical Biography (Paperback)

This is a book everyone should read. What hardship and cruelty this family endured! Having been raised in Big Stone Gap and especially the Wildcat section, I heard stories much like this when I was growing up. Amelia Townsend and Dink Shackleford have combined their talents for a sure-fire winner in this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Women with GRIT !, August 27, 2007

By 

Dee-Dee (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Keepsakes for the Heart: An Historical Biography (Paperback)

This biography was very interesting, if sometimes maddening, because of all the many hardships some of the Appalachian people had to go through, especially the women. The men mostly ruled the roost back then, and women coped, if they could. It follows a mountain family with many children and then one of the daughters who grew up throughout the book. I liked the little sections of pure history interspersed within the story to help you understand more about the people and some of the challenges they faced. There is quite a bit about the beginnings of the coal mining industry in the Appalachaian area, which grew very large for a while, then started slowing down with the introduction of technology and more stringent safety rules. It tells some about the "caste" system that developed where the bosses and foremen lived on top of the hill in the nicer, larger houses, and the workers lived at the bottom, and knew their "place".
This book takes place in the past century, from early 1900's until about 1990. Many of the people who read a loaned copy want to get a copy for themselves.
Get this. You will find it fascinating, but prepare to have your emotions stirred.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and moving, November 19, 2002

By 

trudy meeks (Chicago, Il) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keepsakes for the Heart: An Historical Biography (Paperback)

This book reminds me of the movie, Places in the Heart. Just like Sally Field in that movie, Sarah and her mother, Cammie, had to fight for every scrap they got. And to set her life against the history of the time made me understand and pull for these women.