This is one of the seminal books in the whole field of Appalachian Studies, first published in 1913. The very first book to consider our region as distinct was the Loyal Mountaineers of Tennessee by Thomas William Humes, published in 1886. Then Emma Bell Miles followed in 1905 with The Spirit of the Mountains. This book by Horace Kephart (1862-1931) is a dramatic contrast with the book by Emma Bell Miles who was basically a feminist. Kephart has a pretty macho perspective. He share with the reader his experience of going on a bear hunt with mountaineers, on a still hunt with revenuers, etc., but it is still delightful, essentially comprehensive, and an overview whose importance continues to this day. Recently a biography of Kephart as well as a collection of his writings has been published.