The Kingdom of Madison: A Southern Mountain Fastness and its People

by Manly Wade Wellman

Tucked away among the ancient and rugged mountains of Western North Carolina, Madison County—sometimes called 'the Kingdom of Madison' by its older citizens—is one of the most misunderstood and least-appreciated counties in the entire state. Until only recently hard to get into and out of, it has been a genuinely isolated area, blurred in the attention of even neighboring counties.

Genres: History

Hardcover

First published December 12, 1973

Reviews

[Eddie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never knew there was so much history over there in Madison County. My family and I lived in Madison (Beech Glenn) for a brief time with my Grandfather while building our house in Weaverville. I've been through Madison, in Mars Hill, down on the river in Marshall and through Hot Springs more times than I can count. The only history I was aware of were the politics and the Civil War incident that was the origin for the name "Bloody Madison". Had no idea there was such a rich history and how vital Madison, in particular Hot Springs and Marshall, were to the area. Great read and recommend to anyone who is interested in regional history, history or just how life used to be.

[David Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Kingdom of Madison: A Southern Mountain Fastness and Its People by Manly Wade Wellman (UNC Press 1973)(975.6) is a history of Madison County, NC and the three main towns found therein: Hot Springs, Marshall, and Mars Hill. It's very readable, but not particularly interesting. My rating: 6/10, finished 10/5/11.