Mississippi Secrets: Facts, Legends, and Folklore

Description

Delve into the fascinating history of one of the South’s greatest states with Mississippi Secrets: Facts, Legends, and Folklore. Authors Dr. Gary D. and Ruth A. McDowell offer an intriguing collection of little-known events in Mississippi’s history.

Written in short, easy-to-read vignettes, these tales uncover some of the state’s most fascinating figures and legends from how the Choctaws and Chickasaws settled the land to a UFO encounter in Pascagoula. You’ll also read about famous Mississippians, the American Civil War, the 1960s Civil Rights movement, living in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, and other captivating tales that include:

· The U.S. president who stole another man’s wife, brought her to Mississippi, and married her before she was divorced
· The pirate who helped win the Battle of New Orleans and then retired to Bay St. Louis
· The national hero who killed a man in a knife fight in Natchez
· The blues singer who sold his soul to the devil in Clarksdale in return for his talent
· An interview with James Meredith

Whether you’re a native of Mississippi or simply curious, Mississippi Secrets will capture your imagination with what the history books never tell you!

Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-09-08
Summary: "More entertaining than history."

As a history buff, I find that the only way to really get people interested in the past is to use storytelling. Mississippi Secrets does just that. The book doesn't just state the facts. It also delves into the myths and legends that make storytelling so much fun. I especially enjoyed the rich legends of Native Americans in Mississippi. Plus it's got murders, ghost stories, and a documented UFO encounter. Now that's entertainment. Besides that, what other book would tell you what Afroman and Jim Henson have in common? This book is enjoyable, whether you care about Mississippi history or not.

Rating: 5 / 5
Date: 2007-09-08
Summary: "Boy, did I learn a thing or two...."

When I first picked up Mississippi Secrets, I really didn't expect to read anything that I didn't already know. I consider myself a smart person with a good knowledge of world events, but Mississippi Secrets goes far beyond the stuff we're taught in history class.

This book does a great job of showing Mississipp's connection to major historical persons and events. For instance, do you know what a gigantic role Mississippi played in the life and death of Lewis (of Lewis and Clark fame)? I do now. Mississippi Secrets takes famous characters out of the history books and places them in the real world where they were not the squeaky clean heroes we thought they were. And the bite-sized portions remind me of an Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, but with cool stories I look forward to impressing my friends with.

In short, I learned something. More importantly, I enjoyed it.