Customer Reviews

Long Green: The Rise and Fall of Tobacco in South Carolina

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This beautifully-produced historical account of the tobacco industry in the Pee Dee region of SC stayed in the pile of books on my bedside table for about a month before it finally cycled to the top. Having received the book as a present, I was mildly curious when I picked it up. "OK," I thought, as I began what I believed would be, at best, a cursory examination, "it's a history book." What a pleasant surprise I received! I was immediately drawn in to the story by the eloquent writing style of the authors and the appropriate use of southern expressions. I felt as if I was experiencing the frustration and the joy of the tobacco farmers as they labored to bring in the crop in this unique region of the country. I found each of the illustrations in the book to be clearly presented and to closely fit the part of the story being told. Within a short period of time after beginning my reading, I began going to bed early to allow myself more reading time. Since I only adopt that reading behavior for the page-turners, I knew then I was hooked! My interest continued right on through the cogent explanation of the structure of the tobacco-subsidy system and finally to the conclusion and the insightful comments of the authors regarding the future of the tobacco industry. I wish to thank Prince & Simpson for their intelligent coverage of a complex part of American culture. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in real southern culture, and not that fake, hick Hollywood version so often portrayed in movies, and for anyone interested in really knowing what the tobacco industry is about.