Purt Nigh Gone: The Old Mountain Ways [Paperback]

Zell Miller (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 171 pages
• Publisher: Stroud & Hall Publishers (April 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0979646235
• ISBN-13: 978-0979646232
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the last unique cultures in America - Purt Nigh Gone, April 21, 2009

By 

Library Lady (Young Harris, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Purt Nigh Gone: The Old Mountain Ways (Paperback)

Purt Nigh Gone: The Old Mountain Ways

For those of us who grew up in the Appalachian South and remember the speech, food, customs, strength of character, and faith of true mountaineers, this book is a gem. It naturally focuses a good deal on the area of Georgia where Miller was raised, as it is the part he knows and loves best. The chapters in the book include: In the Beginning - a look at the unique geology, ecology, and settlement of the region; The Cherokees - the native Americans who loved the area before we did; Gold in the Hills - chronicles an often distorted chapter in the area's history; The Way Life Was - anyone who has never lived without access to modern conveniences and what many consider basic necessities (even well into the 20th century) can not truly understand; Making Shine - dispels a few myths about whiskey makers and individual liberty; Mountain Food - creative use of ingredients and use of local items long before it became the culinary sensation it is today; Disapearing Dialect - interesting for those who believe our colorful language is born of ignorance or lack of education; Old-Time Religion - faith has always been integral to Appalachian life, this chapter shows the influence of many denominations; Mountain Music - showcases some of the amazing talents the region has produced; Mountain Humor - discusses the need for humor in a harsh life, the characteristics that make mountain humor unique, and some funny stories; Whose Mountains? - this one is especially interesting, given the love of individual liberty of mountaineers, accepting a balance of control and liberty is hard! And given the more recent predations of real estate developers, very timely. The Appendix of 101 Reasons Why I Live in Appalachia will resonate with anyone who loves the region. For those who did not know the region or its inhabitants until recently, this is a must-read to understand those born to the area. Unfortunately, it may also encourage more "move-ins"- further diluting this amazingly rich culture that truly is 'purt nigh gone". This book, along with Cleo Hicks Williams' Gratitude For Shoes: Growing Up Poor In The Smokies, and some of the resources Miller cites in his book, including Horace Kephart's Our Southern Highlanders: A Narrative of Adventure in the Southern Appalachians and a Study of Life Among the Mountaineers, provide insight into the true mountaineer's world, his place in the larger world, and his character. Zell Miller's lovingly told tale is recommended for anyone who wants to know more about the Appalachian region and its people.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zell hits the nail on the head, July 14, 2009

By 

Bill Harper "johnbrown" (usa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Purt Nigh Gone: The Old Mountain Ways (Paperback)

Excellent book, Zell has hit the nail on the head, lots of very interesting information.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One engaging historian!, June 22, 2011

By 

Barbara Victoria (Cody, WY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Purt Nigh Gone: The Old Mountain Ways (Paperback)

Zell Miller is an engaging writer, and leads the reader right into the history of the Appalachian region with perspective and compassion. A native of Young Harris, GA, Miller walks the walk, talks the talk, and has served with distinction in the Georgia legislature, as governor, and as a Senator Washington. A wonderful book to sit down with, written by an extraordinary man with deep roots and a great heart.