Taking Up Serpents: Snake Handlers of Eastern Kentucky [Paperback]

David L. Kimbrough (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1995

The Holiness serpent handlers, who originated around 1910, are one of the most controversial religious groups in America. Their practice has brought them into conflict with authorities many times, and the often sensationalized media accounts of their services fascinate and horrify us. But as David Kimbrough so ably documents, snake handlers are sincere worshipers who honestly believe that they are protected by God when they take up serpents.

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

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kimbrough presents his research, based primarily on oral interviews, on the history of the religious ritual of snake handling. He focuses on the Saylor family to illustrate the evolution of the snake-handling movement, which intensified as the economy and lifestyle of the Appalachian Mountain region moved from agricultural subsistence to industrial capitalism. When families moved from farms to coal fields, folk religions emerged to fulfill emotional needs not met by traditional churches. Kimbrough's work is much more scholarly and analytical than Dennis Covington's Salvation on Sand Mountain (LJ 12/94) and more narrowly focused than Thomas Burton's Snake Handling Believers (LJ 3/15/93). Recommended for academic collections.?Eloise R. Hitchcock, Tennessee Technological Univ. Lib., Cookeville
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Univ of North Carolina Pr (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807845337
• ISBN-13: 978-0807845332
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,880,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars All in the Family, May 20, 2000

By 

Mrs. Saylor (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taking Up Serpents: Snake Handlers of Eastern Kentucky (Hardcover)

This is a very thoroughly researched book about snake-handling Pentecostals. I highly recommend it for an unbiased account of the practice. The author focused on one family, and did an incredible job of detailing the history of snake handling through them. The book covers everything from why these believers handle snakes, the very beginnings of the practice, the other "signs" (taking poison, handling fire), the basic doctrine of their church, the legal battles, the migration of the church & the snakes, the miracles, and the deaths. It also offers a wonderful history of the Saylor family, including their religious beliefs. I married into this family not even knowing that snake handling existed outside of old-time circuses and music videos, and after reading this book have a MUCH better grasp of the whole concept. Though all 53 of the photos are black & white, they add quite a bit. Even if you have no interest in purposefully picking up a rattlesnake or drinking strychnine, or don't even know who the Saylors are, this book gives the reader a front row pew on a part of American culture few people will ever experience.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars taking up serpents, January 2, 2003

By 

jerry snow (Windfall, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taking Up Serpents: A History of Snake Handling (Paperback)

Being a snake handling buff and unable to read David L. Kimbrough's, Taking Up Serpents for years, I finally had the pleasure. Kimbrough's work far surpasses anything else that has been written on the subject. Kimbrough being an Appalachian and Ph.D. sets the standard for doing oral research along with combing the archieves.
Kimbrough's work focuses on the Saylor family in eastern Kentucky and shows how the movement evolved. Kimbrough illustrates how the snake handling movement gained momentum when industrial capitalism surfaced in Kentucky.
The work is simply the best source for scholars and people with a general interest in snake handliing. No other book comes close to this masterpiece.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written, November 16, 2008

By 

Janet G. Bell (Van Wert, Oh USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taking Up Serpents: A History of Snake Handling (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book written by an author who got to know the families and understands their ways. Even though this book does tell the history of how snakehandling came to be included in church services, it also explains the side of the individuals who have a deep desire to serve the Lord entirely and hold back nothing from Him, even their own life if so desired by Him. In an age of lukewarmness, it is encouraging to read of Christians willing to suffer persecution or give their life for their faith. This book includes many photos of the persons written about in the book. I am glad that I bought this book and highly commend the author and the Lord who supplied it.