“In an era when the truth about everything is crucially needed, author Nancy Diggs unveils the true soul of Appalachia, a region commonly depicted by stereotypes of poverty, ignorance, and violence. From coal mines to mountain churches to dance halls of country music, Diggs explores it all, sculpting new images as she introduces her readers to strong, creative, hardworking folks—many having survived tough times through their music, religion, and sheer strength gained from hardscrabble pasts. Unearthing such gems from a terrain of misconceptions, Diggs’ spirited In Search of Appalachia brings to life what Walt Whitman claimed in Leaves of Grass, as Diggs writes, “The best of America lies in its common people.” This excellently researched book will help to fulfill its author’s greatest hope: that Appalachia “be met with the celebration it deserves.”
Ann Hagedorn, award-winning author of Wild Ride, Ransom, Beyond the River, Savage Peace, and The Invisible Soldiers
