A well written history of a unique region of the United States. I normally wouldn’t read this type of book but the writing style was lucid and entertaining. Can’t wait for the next volume.

I doubt there exists a more extensive history of the Ozarks than this one authored by Professor of Ozark Studies Brooks Blevins. Beginning with the land itself, Professor Blevins moves on to the Native Americans who originally occupied the land before American settlers arrived. The book focuses on the antebellum years, saving the Civil War and afterwards for Volumes 2 and 3.

If you have ever perused the history books written about small towns which detail the accomplishments of early residents, you will have a good idea of the composition of this book. Home construction, businesses, livestock, markets, etc. – the author covers everything, mostly through relating stories of the people who helped tame the original wilderness. Although the countless introduction of names soon blurred, Professor Blevins certainly accomplished his goal, which was to offer a comprehensive history of this region of the United States.

One of my favorite sections was the chapter on American Society in the Old Ozarks, which dealt with everything from the establishment and growth of different religions to the early enforcement of law through regulators (vigilantes).

For those seeking a deep history of the Ozarks, you can’t do better than this offering. Well-written with maps and (mostly hand-drawn) pictures scattered throughout the pages, readers can’t help walking away with a greater knowledge of this land and its stories. Five stars.

Such a detailed account of Ozark history! This book captured my interest because I had ancestors in the region during the early years of the Arkansas territory. Not to mention the fact that Arkansas is such a beautiful state--why not find out it’s history?

Full of geographic descriptions and sociological details, the author leaves no stone unturned in presenting the early days of the Ozark region. Agriculture is also a big part of the state’s history and through reading, it is easy to understand how the razorback became the mascot of the University of Arkansas.

From Indians to cattle drives, readers will discover the rich history that shaped Arkansas. The book ends right around the time of the Civil War and I’m so interested in reading the second volume that tells how the war changed things in the state.

History lovers and genealogists will most likely enjoy this book the most. There is an abundance of name-dropping of people and places important to Arkansas.

Many thanks to NetGalley and University of Illinois Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

This was a fun read for anyone interested in the Ozarks! It's very well researched by the author who I believe is a professor. I love the Ozarks and thought wanted to learn more about them. Well, It contained more info than I had expected! It explained a lot about the year years of settlement and gave me quite a few unintentional laughs when I discovered some ancestors of family members in it! It explained a lot about my own as well- but not as directly! I can't wait to read Vol. 2! I think the book will appeal chiefly to those from the region or with ties to it, but also those of us who love the region!

A beautifully written history of the Ozarks. I knew nothing about the area prior to reading this text and learned much about the geography and social history, but I believe it will be of great interest to those who actually live in the area, who know the towns and historical names and can personally relate to that history.

Interesting information within these book. I learned many things and received more details from what I had known before. It is well written and informative.

I live in the Ozarks. We moved here a little over a year ago and I've been looking for local history books, which are surprisingly hard to find. This one fills in allot of the gaps and answers allot of questions. It should be required reading for anyone moving into the area. I am most definitely recommending it at our local newcomers briefings.

I grew up in the Midwest so I was always aware of The Ozarks and visited there numerous times. This history of the region is fascinating and I look forward to the future volumes.