Dead And Gone: Classic Crimes Of North Carolina

Dead and Gone is another fine example of Manly Wade Wellman's ability to breathe life into stories from the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding communities. This collection of 10 famous murders from 1808 to 1914 reveals a time when women were idealized and men of the community mobilized rapidly to hunt down a suspected murderer or escaped prisoner. The collection covers a variety of crimes from murder for revenge to poisoning for profit. Mr. Wellman's gift for clear and finely crafted language help the reader envision the times and places he writes about. Included is the story of the murder committed by Frances Silver; Sharon McCrumb expanded on this tale in her novel The Ballad of Frankie Silver. I wish more of Mr. Wellman's books were available; so many are out of print and difficult to find. Wouldn't it be wonderful to help a new generation of readers discover the fine writing of his genius through reissues!