Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains - by Timothy Silver (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Each year, thousands of tourists visit Mount Mitchell, the most prominent feature of North Carolina's Black Mountain range and the highest peak in the eastern United States. From Native Americans and early explorers to land speculators and conservationists, people have long been drawn to this rugged region. Timothy Silver explores the long and complicated history of the Black Mountains, drawing on both the historical record and his experience as a backpacker and fly fisherman. He chronicles the geological and environmental forces that created this intriguing landscape, then traces its history of environmental change and human intervention from the days of Indian-European contact to today.

Among the many tales Silver recounts is that of Elisha Mitchell, the renowned geologist and University of North Carolina professor for whom Mount Mitchell is named, who fell to his death there in 1857. But nature's stories -- of forest fires, chestnut blight, competition among plants and animals, insect invasions, and, most recently, airborne toxins and acid rain -- are also part of Silver's narrative, making it the first history of the Appalachians in which the natural world gets equal time with human history. It is only by understanding the dynamic between these two forces, Silver says, that we can begin to protect the Black Mountains for future generations.

Review Quotes

"[An] instructive story of both ecological change and the impact of human activity on the natural environment. . . . [Silver's] interweaving of his personal journal of visits to the mountains adds a surprisingly spiritual dimension to the scholarly narrative. This book is politically, culturally, philosophically, biologically, and -- for its author and its readers -- personally engaging." -- Mountain Research and Development

"[A] passionate . . . [and] accessible work that will satisfy both the professional historian and the inquisitive citizen." -- American Historical Review

"A wonderfully informative and enjoyable journey through time and across the space of an extraordinary Appalachian landscape. . . . His knowledge and love of the region shine through every page. . . . Profusely illustrated with photographs and informative maps, this volume will delight and inform readers seeking a sense of place." -- Appalachian Journal

"An absorbing and readable book that will appeal to general readers and scholars alike." -- Appalachian Heritage

"An excellent case-study in environmental history. The emphasis on the role of human decisions in the composition and workings of contemporary ecosystems coupled with the recognition that 'nature' is also an active player makes the book worthwhile reading for geographers as well as ecologists, for students and educators as well as the general public." -- Historical Geography

"Like the natural world that is his subject, Timothy Silver's new environmental history of Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains is complex and compelling. . . . Gracefully written and well-organized. . . . Silver's work is one of only a handful of studies that consider the natural world as an active agent in the Appalachian history and, as such, is an important contribution to the field." -- H-Appalachia

"Silver acts as both nature guide and interpreter of history in his book. . . . As a naturalist he is skilled, thoughtful, and engaging. . . . This is matched by equal competency as a historian, including the ability to labor productively in multiple fields." -- Journal of American History

"The environmental history of the Appalachian Mountain region is a field that recently has seen the publication of several very good books, of which Timothy Silver's Mount Mitchell and the Black Mountains is one. . . . A very worthwhile book." -- H-Environment

"This absorbing, beautifully crafted book tells a powerful story about one of western North Carolina's most popular tourist destinations: Mount Mitchell and the surrounding Black Mountains. . . . No one is better qualified than Tim Silver to interpret the complex transformations of this landscape." -- North Carolina Historical Review

"This is a fine book and a good read. . . . Tim Silver has given us a benchmark of environmental history for a fascinating part of North America." -- Environmental History

About the Author

Timothy Silver is professor of history at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. His previous publications include A New Face on the Countryside: Indians, Colonists, and Slaves in South Atlantic Forests, 1500-1800.