A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1

The Old Ozarks

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Pub Date Jul 16 2018 | Archive Date Jun 28 2018

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Description

Geologic forces raised the Ozarks. Myth enshrouds these hills. Human beings shaped them and were shaped by them. The Ozarks reflect the epic tableau of the American people—the native Osage and would-be colonial conquerors, the determined settlers and on-the-make speculators, the endless labors of hardscrabble farmers and capitalism of visionary entrepreneurs.

The Old Ozarks is the first volume of a monumental three-part history of the region and its inhabitants. Brooks Blevins begins in deep prehistory, charting how these highlands of granite, dolomite, and limestone came to exist. From there he turns to the political and economic motivations behind the eagerness of many peoples to possess the Ozarks. Blevins places these early proto-Ozarkers within the context of larger American history and the economic, social, and political forces that drove it forward. But he also tells the varied and colorful human stories that fill the region's storied past—and contribute to the powerful myths and misunderstandings that even today distort our views of the Ozarks' places and people.

A sweeping history in the grand tradition, A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1: The Old Ozarks is essential reading for anyone who cares about the highland heart of America.

Brooks Blevins is the Noel Boyd Professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University. He is the author or editor of eight books, including Ghost of the Ozarks: Murder and Memory in the Upland South; Arkansas, Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies, and Good Ol' Boys Defined a State; and Hill Folks: A History of Arkansas Ozarkers and Their Image.

Geologic forces raised the Ozarks. Myth enshrouds these hills. Human beings shaped them and were shaped by them. The Ozarks reflect the epic tableau of the American people—the native Osage and...


Advance Praise

"The story of the Old Ozarks is richly compelling and frustratingly complicated. There is no person better equipped to tell that story than Brooks Blevins. He has the research skills to pull together the disparate threads of Ozark history and the skill to weave those threads into a beautiful tapestry that combines the fine attention to detail possessed by the best historians and the artistic flair of a master storyteller."--Daniel S. Pierce, author of The Great Smokies: From National Habitat to National Park 

“Every page of this book evidences Brooks Blevins’s deep love for and knowledge of the Ozarks. The Old Ozarks is regional history at its finest. It is exhaustively researched and beautifully written. I can’t wait for the next two installments of the trilogy!”--Gary R. Kremer, author of Race and Meaning: The African American Experience in Missouri



"The story of the Old Ozarks is richly compelling and frustratingly complicated. There is no person better equipped to tell that story than Brooks Blevins. He has the research skills to pull together...


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9780252041914
PRICE $34.95 (USD)
PAGES 336

Average rating from 9 members


Featured Reviews

I grew up in the Midwest so I was always aware of The Ozarks and visited there numerous times. This history of the region is fascinating and I look forward to the future volumes.

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Interesting information within these book. I learned many things and received more details from what I had known before. It is well written and informative.

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A beautifully written history of the Ozarks. I knew nothing about the area prior to reading this text and learned much about the geography and social history, but I believe it will be of great interest to those who actually live in the area, who know the towns and historical names and can personally relate to that history.

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This was a fun read for anyone interested in the Ozarks! It's very well researched by the author who I believe is a professor. I love the Ozarks and thought wanted to learn more about them. Well, It contained more info than I had expected! It explained a lot about the year years of settlement and gave me quite a few unintentional laughs when I discovered some ancestors of family members in it! It explained a lot about my own as well- but not as directly! I can't wait to read Vol. 2! I think the book will appeal chiefly to those from the region or with ties to it, but also those of us who love the region!

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I doubt there exists a more extensive history of the Ozarks than this one authored by Professor of Ozark Studies Brooks Blevins. Beginning with the land itself, Professor Blevins moves on to the Native Americans who originally occupied the land before American settlers arrived. The book focuses on the antebellum years, saving the Civil War and afterwards for Volumes 2 and 3.

If you have ever perused the history books written about small towns which detail the accomplishments of early residents, you will have a good idea of the composition of this book. Home construction, businesses, livestock, markets, etc. – the author covers everything, mostly through relating stories of the people who helped tame the original wilderness. Although the countless introduction of names soon blurred, Professor Blevins certainly accomplished his goal, which was to offer a comprehensive history of this region of the United States.

One of my favorite sections was the chapter on American Society in the Old Ozarks, which dealt with everything from the establishment and growth of different religions to the early enforcement of law through regulators (vigilantes).

For those seeking a deep history of the Ozarks, you can’t do better than this offering. Well-written with maps and (mostly hand-drawn) pictures scattered throughout the pages, readers can’t help walking away with a greater knowledge of this land and its stories. Five stars.

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Such a detailed account of Ozark history! This book captured my interest because I had ancestors in the region during the early years of the Arkansas territory. Not to mention the fact that Arkansas is such a beautiful state--why not find out it’s history?

Full of geographic descriptions and sociological details, the author leaves no stone unturned in presenting the early days of the Ozark region. Agriculture is also a big part of the state’s history and through reading, it is easy to understand how the razorback became the mascot of the University of Arkansas.

From Indians to cattle drives, readers will discover the rich history that shaped Arkansas. The book ends right around the time of the Civil War and I’m so interested in reading the second volume that tells how the war changed things in the state.

History lovers and genealogists will most likely enjoy this book the most. There is an abundance of name-dropping of people and places important to Arkansas.

Many thanks to NetGalley and University of Illinois Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

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I live in the Ozarks. We moved here a little over a year ago and I've been looking for local history books, which are surprisingly hard to find. This one fills in allot of the gaps and answers allot of questions. It should be required reading for anyone moving into the area. I am most definitely recommending it at our local newcomers briefings.

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A well written history of a unique region of the United States. I normally wouldn’t read this type of book but the writing style was lucid and entertaining. Can’t wait for the next volume.

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