Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain; the history of Hancock County, Mississippi: From the Stone Age to the Space Age [Hardcover]

Robert G. Scharff (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1556181760 | ISBN-13: 978-1556181764 | Publication Date: July 1, 1999 | Edition: 1

Hancock County is located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, between New Orleans and Biloxi. While its history is intimately connected with that of both cities, it is also unique, with its own independent development. Some of its history's many elements include prehistoric stone-age people, European explorers, extermination of the buffalo, pirates, a naval battle in the War of 1812, Indians, settlers, the county's role in the Civil War, timber barons and their company towns, the testing of Saturn rocket motors, and casino gambling. These stories and many others are told in the book's 35 well-documented chapters. This volume is, by far, the most authoritative history of the county written to date, and should be of value to genealogy buffs as well as those with an appetite for local history. It is a BIG book with over 700 pages and with 100 pictures.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"... a wonderful job ... he covers everything ... taken together this is a tour de force, with the added pleasure of a full and comprehensive bibliography." -- Stephen E. Ambrose

"...Did you know?..." game players will have fun with this book.... Though an easy read, 'Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain' is a book to read slowly and to keep as a legacy to future generations of Hancock Countians." -- Nan Patton Ehrbright, The SunHerald, Gulfport/Biloxi

"...People with roots in this county will be delighted with a recently published history of this area by Robert G. Scharff. 'Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain: A History of Hancock County from the Stone Age to the Space Age,' is the county's story from pre-historic times to the present told in an easily-read style.

Sketches of many ealry families and stories about interesting places and businesses are found throughout this 700-page book. A most valuable section for family historians is an index to personal sketches about individuals, families and institutions that Scharff found in his research.... A comprehensive bibliography guides readers to the sources of information Scharff consulted in his 14 years of research. Many pictures of times past illustrate this attractive, hardcover book...." -- Regina Hines of The Mississippi Press, The SunHerald, Gulfport/Biloxi

"Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain is the history of Hancock County, Mississippi and documents in an entertaining, informative, and thoroughly engaging way the birth of Hancock County, including its pirates and outlaws, Indian wars, the Pearl River towns, New Orleans Territory, expulsion of the Indians, the Copeland gang, the Civil War, the railroads, lumber barons, Gay Nineties, the decline and fall of the primeval forest, the Roaring Twenties, NASA, Hurricane Camille, the New Era, and gambling. An impressive work of historical scholarship, Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain is enhanced with and "Index to Personal and Family, and Institutional Histories," the "Index to Wills Filed 1814-1900," a comprehensive bibliography, and a general index. -- Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

Although Scharff claims to be neither a historian nor a writer, he is both. By writing this history of Hancock County he performed an invaluable service. His accounts are at once thorough and entertaining. Even readers without connections to Hancock County will find themselves drawn into the pages of this book and learn a lot about this country as a whole as they read about Hancock County.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 741 pages
• Publisher: Brunswick Publishing Corporation; 1 edition (July 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556181760
• ISBN-13: 978-1556181764
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,421,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book makes history come alive!, June 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain; the history of Hancock County, Mississippi: From the Stone Age to the Space Age (Hardcover)

This historical volume has been extremely well-researched, well-documented, and well-written. It is an excellent resource for history aficionados, especially those with a focus on Mississippi and Louisiana. It describes the people, places, and events that shaped Hancock County, Mississippi -- on the Gulf Coast -- from prehistoric times to the present.

There are countless interesting (and very descriptive) stories contained in the book; the author's writing style makes you feel like you were there -- this isn't just a "dry" history book. The people and places really come alive through the well-chosen words.

After reading the book and then visiting Mississippi and Hancock County for the first time, I felt like I was already in familiar territory!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, May 12, 2006

By 

Carla Lizana (Kiln, Mississippi) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain; the history of Hancock County, Mississippi: From the Stone Age to the Space Age (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book. It is filled with great stories backed up with referances about Hancock Co.(surrounding counties too) and those who helped make it what it is today. Great for geneology work too.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars too many mistakes., November 28, 2003

By A Customer

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This review is from: Louisiana's Loss, Mississippi's Gain; the history of Hancock County, Mississippi: From the Stone Age to the Space Age (Hardcover)

Nothing against Mr.Ambrose,but this book is filled with mistakes.There are books published locally that are better researched.When speaking about the the movie filmed here"This Property is Condemned",he couldn't even get the name right.The book is written in such a way that one can tell that research was lacking.Save your money and do your own research.