The Old German Baptist Brethren: Faith, Farming, and Change in the Virginia Blue Ridge (Paperback)

by Charles D. Thompson Jr. (Author) "The first German Baptists were eight exiles who gathered clandestinely three centuries ago in Alexander Mack's millhouse to read the Bible and pray..." (more)
Key Phrases: dairy business, milk prices, cow numbers, Franklin County, German Baptist, Smith Mountain Lake (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Thompson's book is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a religious community in America. His work will be of interest to oral historians, who will be pleased that his contextualization of each narrative includes narrative description of the activities, location, and even weather during his interview."--Journal of Folklore Research

"This fair and richly researched analysis provides insight into a unique religious minority and their alternative witness against the hidden costs of industrialized agriculture and suburban development in the United States."--Journal of Southern History

Product Description
This work features a traditional community's struggle to define itself in the face of agricultural change. Since arriving nearly 250 years ago in Franklin County, Virginia, German Baptists have maintained their faith and farms by relying on their tightly knit community for spiritual and economic support. Today, with their land and livelihoods threatened by the encroachment of neighboring communities, the construction of a new highway, and competition from corporate megafarms, the German Baptists find themselves forced to adjust.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press; 1 edition (June 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252073436
• ISBN-13: 978-0252073434
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,020,341 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More about farming than faith, November 13, 2006

By	S. Gabrielson "Cuzin G" (VA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Although the first few chapters were interesting, it seems to me that the author (who reportedly took several years to write this book) ran out of ideas. The middle and end of the book is more about farming and farm changes than it is about the Brethren. Many people who are interested in learning about the Old Order may be disappointed in this book. If you live in the Franklin County area, or are from this area, you will know many of the people mentioned herein. I am glad I bought the book, although I had to force myself to finish it.