Wicked Nashville

by Elizabeth K. Goetsch

While known for the twang of its country music, Nashville is also home to a colorful and salacious past. A must-read for Nashville history enthusiasts.

The earliest settlers to lay claim to the land surrounding Nashville brought with them betrayal, murder and thievery.

As the city grew, authorities unsuccessfully attempted to outlaw and remove vice. During the Civil War, the number of soiled doves

in Nashville forced the army to legalize and regulate prostitution. The death of outspoken politician Edward Carmack triggered the state to outlaw booze for nearly thirty years, but that did not stop alcohol from flowing in the city. One local mayor even bragged about his patronage of saloons.

Elizabeth Goetsch dives into Nashville's wicked past and explores some of Music City's more tantalizing history.

Genres: Nonfiction

131 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2017

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

Try as I may, I couldn't finish this book. As a Nashville native, I wanted to learn about interesting and scandalous things that happened in the past. But it was neither interesting nor scandalous, and it had grammatical errors. And while Nashville may have originally been dubbed the "Athens of the West," every time I read that, I cringed a little because it is currently the "Athens of the South." If you want to go to the Athens of the West, you need to go to Lexington, KY or one of several other cities who claim that title in that general vicinity.

[D Franklin Pack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much in this book that sets Nashville apart from any other city for wickedness. I was anticipating getting the scoop on some things that are not ordinarily known or available with minimum research. Two chapters were wasted on murder cases that had much to do with human nature but nothing to do with the city itself. Also, the chapter on Edward Carmack was more about politics than a wicked city. All towns and cities have murder cases that shed light on the wicked nature of people regardless of where they live, and prohibition problems were common to all. If the author wanted to write about wickedness in Nashville, why not research the music industry? With this said, the book is still an interesting read although it does not live up to its title.

[Susan Debolt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden population groups of people in Nashville

This book and it's author do an excellent job of describing the roles of numerous groups that contributed to the development of Nashville but because they were frowned on by society have been hidden in nearly every historical account. A fascinating story and one worth knowing!

[Mark Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. If you want the steamy side of Nashville this one is it. Did you know Nashville had the first legalized prostitution - during the Civil War-1863. How about my favorite Skull's Rainbow Room. I go to Skull's even today. Stay at The Hermitage Hotel next to the Capitol and take a rickshaw to and fro. Catch a dinner and show-have a drank.

[Melissa Loucks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy learning about cities I've been too