Book description
Kentucky is most commonly associated with horses, tobacco fields,
bourbon, and coal mines. There is much more to the state, though, than
stories of feuding families and Colonel Sanders' famous fried chicken.
Kentucky has a rich and often compelling history, and James C. Klotter
and Freda C. Klotter introduce readers to an exciting story that spans
12,000 years, looking at the lives of Kentuckians from Native
Americans to astronauts. The Klotters examine all aspects of the
state's history -- its geography, government, social life, cultural
achievements, education, and economy. A Concise History of Kentucky
recounts the events of the deadly frontier wars of the state's early
history, the divisive Civil War, and the shocking assassination of a
governor in 1900. The book tells of Kentucky's leaders from Daniel
Boone and Henry Clay to Abraham Lincoln, Mary Breckinridge, and
Muhammad Ali. The authors also highlight the lives of Kentuckians,
both famous and ordinary, to give a voice to history. The Klotters
explore Kentuckians' accomplishments in government, medicine,
politics, and the arts. They describe the writing and music that
flowered across the state, and they profile the individuals who worked
to secure equal rights for women and African Americans. The book
explains what it was like to work in the coal mines and explains the
daily routine on a nineteenth-century farm. The authors bring
Kentucky's story to the twenty-first century and talk about the
state's modern economy, where auto manufacturing jobs are replacing
traditional agricultural work. A collaboration of the state historian
and an experienced educator, A Concise History of Kentucky is the best
single resource for Kentuckians new and old who want to learn more
about the past, present, and future of the Bluegrass State.
""A useful guide in a convenient and well-written
format."--Ohio History" --
James C. Klotter is professor of history at Georgetown College and
the state historian of Kentucky. He is the author or coauthor of
several books, including A New History of Kentucky. Freda C. Klotter
has twenty-five years of classroom experience and currently serves as
an educational consultant for the nonprofit Kentucky Collaborative for
Teaching and Learning.
