Briefly Noted

“Faulkner combines careful historical research with meticulous archaeological excavations conducted in developed areas of the west Knoxville suburbs to illuminate what happened on that fateful day in 1793. As a result, he answers significant questions about the massacre and seeks to discover the genealogy of the Cavetts and if any family members survived the attack. This book is an important contribution to the study of frontier history and a long-overdue analysis of one of East Tennessee’s well-known legends.”

“Memphis has always been a theatrical town—a crossroads in the center of America for entertainment as well as commerce. Movies are among the many things that travel through the city, both for distribution and exhibition. Thousands of people who have lived here or just passed through, especially during and after World War II, found their way to the movie theaters.”

“Venable studies the world about him. Yes, he writes about nuttiness, but he is an appreciator, indeed a lover, of people and place. . . . Spontaneous joy leaps from the page. I would rather be in Hell with my back broken than spend a day fishing, but Venable almost seduces me into wanting to spend time in a bass boat—listening to him.”

“By emphasizing Jackson’s southern identity—characterized by violence, honor, kinship, slavery, and Manifest Destiny—Cheathem’s narrative offers a bold new perspective on one of the nineteenth century’s most renowned and controversial presidents.”