Out of his experience of growing up in a typical Scottish family of the upper Cape Fear Valley in Eastern North Carolina in the 1940s and '50s; and of several years of study in Scotland in the '60s and '70s; Douglas Kelly has woven together the story of two cultures: Scottish Highland and Eastern Carolina. He combines colorful strands of cultural; linguistic; educational; political and religious history; with a careful genealogy of the first four or five generations of some sixty-five different family groups; who emigrated from the Scottish Highlands and Islands to the Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina and the neighboring Pee Dee Valley of South Carolina; from 1739 to the early 1840s. North Carolina is believed to have been the largest Scottish settlement anywhere in the world outside Scotland; and its emigrants have formed the backbone of large sections of both Carolinas for some 250 years. It may become a classic study of one of the original headwaters of Southern culture: Carolina Gaeldom; which sent an overflowing stream of hundreds of thousands of settlers into the Deep South and Southwest throughout the 19th century; thus profoundly shaping this huge region; and playing its part in making America what it is today. It has been hailed as the only major study so far of the early emigrations prior to the Clearances. The story is made more real through over 100 photographs; maps and engravings from the period; chronicling the history of housing among these Scots from castles and huts in 18th century Scotland to still extant log cabins; upcountry mansions; slave quarters and old Presbyterian Churches in both N. and S. Carolina. There is also a unique appendix to Chapter III of Part I on the historic and current status of the Gaelic language in Carolina. (At one time it was the second language of the Cape Fear region). Help is provided throughout the genealogies on how to find more information; including rare and unpublished sources. The complete index lists more than 7;000 different names; in addition to place names and subject matter.
#2981731 in Books Da Capo Press 1994-02-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .60 x 6.00l; .93 #File Name: 0962761370224 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. HistoryBy TaameirIt is most certainly not for the faint of heart. Not having been educated on the history of Haiti; I was interested when some suggested that the natural disasters occurring in Haiti in the past few years were God's punishment for its past. Of course; I was generally familiar with Toussaint Louvertere which I had seen spelled a different way. However; I had not studied his life in detail and was not in any way familiar with the particulars of the history in that country.While I am a strong believer in the basic goodness of human nature; I am well aware of the many examples of man's inhumane treatement of his fellow man. The details provided in this book will not be appealing to most and should likely be avoided by those not desiring knowledge of the precise description of how slaves were tormented by their most perverse masters and what atrociites the slaves could inflict;themselves; when the tables are turned. But; of course; it is possible to skip over those graphic accounts and concentrate on the general history which is fascinating. The accounts of the fierce military campaigns; espionage intrige and political machinations are all exrremely interesting and intriguing.Reading about the day to day events in the life of a slave growing up in Haiti more than 200 years ago is illuminating. Being the son of a reported son of an African king; Toussaint Louvertere is likely to have had a better life than most slaves. He was permitted to learn to read and write and also learned some Latin which is probably a beter education than many of us are exposed to even today. I learned a great deal about the violent history of Haiti and commend this account to those seeking intimate knowledge of the "Black Napolean" whose life was not nearly the "bowl of cherries" that one would have envisioned for one who successfully led a slave revolt and established a new order for a new nation. Like George Washington; Toussaint Louvertere may have indeed been the father of his country but; more than 200 years ago; the differences between the nature of the lives of the two leaders are startling.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Danie C7 of 8 people found the following review helpful. slave rebellon in HaitiBy Deirdre GaskinThis book was informative for me in that it brought a much deeper insight and understanding of the country and its people. This little island was so ravaged by France; England and America that it is no wonder that even today it remains one of the poorest; most disadvantaged countries in the world. There is evidence of remarkable research and documentation. The characters are well developed in personalities; beliefs and motives. The most outstanding character in the book is Toussaint Loverture; the slave who rose up with intelligence; courage and military expertise to inspire the fight for freedom from slavery. The dynamics between him and other military leaders represent fascinating reading. The switching of sides for personal gain was complex and the unbelieveable treachery against Loverture was devastating. Yet; in the face of overwhelming opposition he remained strong in persevering freedom for his people until the very end. He died a noble death and his principles should live on in the hearts of not only Haitians; but all the racially disadvantaged people in the world. An excellent historical novel!
