Mystery & History in Georgia - by R Olin Jackson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This volume is a compendium of information on historic sites, incidents and mysterious unexplained events relating to what today is the state of Georgia, from prehistory up to the 1950s. The captivating topics range from Native American history and mysteries; railroads history and mysteries; and pioneer Georgia history; to U.S. Civil War history and mysteries in Georgia; natural disasters in the state; illicit liquor ("moonshine") history in Georgia; murder mysteries; and a wide array of other unusual and unexplained phenomena in the state. The details of these events and mysteries have been carefully researched and painstakingly collected over the past 25 years. The book topics are arranged on a county-by-county basis for ease of reference. This volume of work includes Full Name and Subject Indexes to facilitate use by researchers and is illustrated with over 250 captivating photographs, many of which are rare historic prints. Mystery and History in Georgia is not intended as an all-inclusive history of the state, but rather as a documentation of historic, mysterious and unexplained events which have occurred in the state during the aforementioned time-period. All research involved in the preparation of this book was conducted by skilled historians and dedicated researchers of history.

R. Olin Jackson holds the B.A. degree in journalism from Georgia State University in Atlanta and the M.Ed. degree in political science history from North Georgia State University. He is the award-winning former editor/publisher of Georgia Backroads magazine and a native of Georgia. His previous books include "A North Georgia Journal of History, Volumes I, II, III, and IV," "Moonshine, Murder, & Mayhem in Georgia," "Georgia's Doc Holliday," "Georgia Backroads Traveler," "Tales of the Rails in Georgia," and numerous others.

Review Quotes

In 2022, Mystery & History in Georgia was named as a "Five-Star Award" recipient by Readers' Favorite book awards. In making this selection, Readers' Favorite stated: "Mystery & History in Georgia by R. Olin Jackson is the first volume in the author's catalog of all things Georgia, beginning the reader's journey with an introduction to the state's incredibly deep history, for better and for worse. Jackson offers a massive compilation, the result of exhaustive research on the history of the state and a number of unexplained events of which some will have certainly heard, and others of which I dare say no one outside the immediate area would have heard. Jackson's inclusions range from the notorious, such as the home and history of the infamous early 20th Century bank robber, Charles 'Pretty Boy' Floyd, to the sad demise of the largely forgotten Tallulah Falls Railroad, and on to The Whistle Stop Cafe, the famed locale in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes that is still open.

"I love history and I love mysteries, and I am a person who selects places to which I travel by what they signify and not by what most tourists want to see, which made Mystery & History in Georgia by R. Olin Jackson a really good fit for my reading rotation. I half expected a stodgy narrative with maybe a few good photographs, but was absolutely blown away by the almost conversational nature of the backstory and narrative and, my word, the photographs are incredible! The work is comprehensive and there is definitely something for everybody."