True Kentucky Legends - Paperback

by Robert a. Powell (Author)

True Facts behind the Legends Author artist Robert A. Powell reveals the exciting true story behind 16 Kentucky Legends, which are among the favorites in American folklore. Separating fact from myth is not always easy; however, the truth is positively fascinating in every instance. Most of the names should be quite familiar, and perhaps even some of the stories, but many of the actual facts behind the stories will probably surprise you and the interesting details of the story that made them a legend will offer interesting facts in every situation. The Legends include: Casey Jones, Legend of the Rails; Hatfields & McCoys, A Bitter Mountain Feud; Cassius Clay, Lion of Whitehall; Daniel Boone, Frontier Hero or American Traitor?; Ephraim McDowell, Father of Abdominal Surgery; Nathan Stubblefield, Kentucky Farmer & Inventor; Col. Eben C. Henson, Alligator Wrestler in Central Kentucky; Alben Barkley, The Man Who Would Be President; Gen. John Hunt Morgan, Thunderbolt of the Confederacy; Adolph Rupp, Baron of the Bluegrass; Harland Sanders, The Image of a Kentucky Colonel; Jenny Wiley, Tenacious Frontier Courage; Man O' War, Legend of a Thoroughbred Champion; Abraham Lincoln, Kentucky's Favorite Son?; Jefferson Davis, Father of the Confederacy; Stephen Foster & My Old Kentucky Home. This outstanding volume is profusely illustrated with old photos and pen-ink drawings by the author.

Author Biography

The distinctive art and writing of Robert A. Powell has long been acclaimed as a dynamic force in capturing and depicting vibrant images of Kentucky's remarkable history and heritage. His track record includes 35 published books, plus hundreds of art prints, sketchbook calendars, and articles about Kentucky subjects. A native Kentuckian Robert A. Powell grew up in the Appalachian foothills of Powell County and the Bluegrass country in Fayette County. His love for Kentucky's heritage and history has taken him to all 120 counties - to research, photograph and sketch. RAP is an author, historian, teacher, photographer, speaker and artist. Powell worked as a journalist for the Clay City Times, Lexington Herald-Leader, and Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. He taught journalism, art and English at high schools in both Kentucky and Florida, and served as a public relations specialist for the Kentucky Department of Education, the U. S. Office of Education, and Appalachian Regional Hospitals. Robert A. Powell was selected as one of the original Kentucky Heritage Artists in 1972, and was named Author of the Year by the Kentucky School Librarians in 1985. He has received many honors and citations from various groups across the state. Powell's most popular books include THIS IS KENTUCKY, his first book (1974). Some of his other more popular works include Kentucky Governors, Kentucky's Covered Bridges, Sketches of Kentucky and a miniature book, Kentucky Sketchbook. True Kentucky Legends, released in 2002, reveals the exciting true story behind 14 of the most prevalent Kentucky legends in American folklore. He was proclaimed by the Lexington Herald-Leader as "quite likely the most influential popular chronicler of Kentucky in recent years." Even the website that features his art and writing www.kyhawke.com is primarily dedicated to Kentucky subjects.