SPELLBINDING

[Laeg]

It seems like a good read about the people who help build America. The first ship sailed from Groomsport, Ulster in 1636. But had to turn back due to the weather however,it was only a temporary setback and over 250,000 Ulster-Scots soon made their way to the New World in the 17/18 centuries.



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Born Fighting : How the Scots-Irish Shaped America by James Webb
Edition: Hardcover





22 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

Spellbinding, October 14, 2004
Publishers Weekly predictably concluded their review dimissively to the effect Webb's "analysis and writing are overwhelmed by romanticism." This proves the antipathy and arrogance of the cultural elite which Webb criticizes throughout. The Romans, Saxons, the English and recently the yankee have always hated the Scot and his progeny of Ulster and Dixie. Hunted, murdered, marginalized, disparaged and scapegoated these resiliant people have not only endured, their bottom up democratic ideals and willingness to fight for them created the American nation.
Drawing from the seminal works of Nora Chadwick (The Celts) and Professor Leyburn as well as Winston Churchhill this well- researched book is romantic too. They were and are a romantic people; the very warrior poets of Wallace's Scotland, the survivors of Boyne, the foot cavalry of Stonewall Jackson. That does not distract from the scholarship.
As a living historian whose first person impression traces his ancestry through Scotland, Ulster and finally Carolina I was touched anew by their struggles and inspired by their faith and courage. Webb has revealed his soul and in doing so has revitalized the story of America's greatest immigrants. It will be at the top of my recommended reading list for new books.

[Laeg]

The Whole Story at Last, October 23, 2004
Reviewer: John Little from Belfast, Northern Ireland United Kingdom
This history written by a talented and far sighted individual, James Webb, places the complete story of this remarkable ethnic group of people in its correct context. For it is their ethnicity that defines them rather than attachment to any physical space. I found Mr Webb's description of his father's funeral at Arlington very moving. It was as though, as in the days of yore, another brave warrior was laid to rest by his native clan. The sense of a bagpiper playing Scotland the Brave as it carried away on the breeze gave me 'goosebumps.' Highly recommend this book tae all Scots-Irish.

[Laeg]

Iam just thinking,maybe I should have had this on the Literature section. But it is History at the same time. One of those ones--sorta fits into both sections. Anyway heres some reviews about what I thought was a great book.


Well worth the read., March 22, 2005
Reviewer: J. Hutchins (Cherry Point, NC) - See all my reviews

This book presents an excellent history lesson for those otherwise unfamiliar with the history of the Scots-Irish. While Sec. Webb's personal accounts made the book very readable I was a little turned off by its self indulgence. As a historian and researcher I also found the lack of primary sources disappointing. However, as a former Marine of Scots-Irish heritage I found myself identifying with Sec. Webb again and again making the book a rarity in its genre, a real page turner. All in all I found the work to be a noble effort to bring the story of a noble people to the general readership.

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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Thank You James Webb, March 20, 2005
Reviewer: dave mack "daka dave" (Los Gatos, California) - See all my reviews
I fell at home. I now have a family. Mr Webb has shown me where I come from. We are the people. Like Mr. Webb my father was buried in Arlington National within a year of his father. He was an Air Force Brat I was a navy brat. He went to the Naval Academy. I lived there a few times when my father taught there. We both come from mountain people. Mine from Pennsylvania his from the south. Both our ancestors fought in every war in US history. And mine back 150 years before 1776. My mother and brother live in Arlington VA as does he. I served in the Army he in the USMC. We have never met but we are brothers. Thank you for this book Mr. Webb. God Bless You.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

A fascinating account of the Scots-Irish, February 20, 2005
Reviewer: Bookreporter.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
Whether you have Scots-Irish blood running through your veins or not, BORN FIGHTING is an interesting account of a large group of people whose views, traditions and actions have shaped the history and the future of America --- although they are largely ignored and forgotten in present-day history books.

James Webb takes us on an interesting historical journey beginning in Celtic England to Scotland to present-day America. He explores the conditions and circumstances that forged the strength of character, will, and mind of the modern-day Scots-Irish American.

Anyone with Scots-Irish blood will feel their heart swell with pride and identification while reading BORN FIGHTING. If you're not in possession of the knowledge of your immediate ancestors, you can still revel in the glory of knowing that you've come from the strong stock of these people who have shaped history. Those who stem from other nationalities also will identify with the struggles and fortitude required of their ancestors to forge a life in what was a new and foreign land.

Those who share this heritage will find themselves nodding and smiling as they identify with the traits and qualities present in themselves and their relatives while reading this fascinating story of a stoic and determined people. James Webb gives us a reason to feel a sense of pride in this heritage that has sometimes been denigrated for its roots in Appalachia and even referred to as "redneck."

The Scots-Irish attitude is what America is made of. They're patriotic, proud and strong --- qualities every American takes pride in no matter what their heritage. The fighting spirit that Americans are known for originated in these people.

Join James Webb on a journey of his personal history and a history shared by hundreds of thousands of other Americans. Feel the pride and wonder as he examines who the Scots-Irish were, how they came to be that way, and who they are now.

--- Reviewed by Amie Taylor


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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

I Agree With "Appalachian Classroom Teacher", February 19, 2005
Reviewer: Shane Mac (White Plains, NY) - See all my reviews
I clicked on "Most Helpful Reviews" button and found great help from "Appalachian Classroom Teacher." This review helped me decide to get Webb's book. It also helped me decide to acquire "People of Passion" by Carl Mays as a companion book.

Like "Appalachian Classroom Teacher," I am also Scotch-Irish (I know, because my grandfather always told me so. He also told me stories of Scotch-Irish who gave America "spice.") Also like the reviewer, I was born in the Southern Highlands and then went to college in the Northeast. However, unlike the reviewer, I never moved back. The two books have helped me to see the value of the Scotch-Irish influence in places like New York City and Boston, as well as places like Asheville, NC and Knoxville, TN. I can relate to "Appalachian Classroom Teacher" because James Webb and Carl Mays write about "my people" and, therefore, about me.

Often, the "Elite" people in some parts of our society have looked down upon Scotch-Irish. The books by Webb and Mays certainly invalidate such a stance. Prior to this reading, I had done some genealogical research on my family and what it means to be Scotch-Irish. But I dropped the research several years ago. Now I am picking it up again. I plan to put together some personal data for my children to have as I pass along to them copies of these two books. The reading should make anyone proud of such heritage. I want them to see the price paid and the character developed by those who paved the way for what we have today!

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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Scots-Irish History, February 19, 2005
Reviewer: Dixie L. Lackey (Strawberry, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

If you are one of the million's of Scots-Irish whose ancestors migrated to America during the 18th century this is a "must read". It's a well-written history of these people. It goes back to when the Roman's invaded Britan and were stopped from going beyond the Hadrian's Wall where the Scots would stand their ground, refusig to let the Roman's into Scotland.
It described for me the traits imbedded deep within m soul, and told me why I am the way I am.
It brings to life the journey my grandfather (five generations back) made with three brothers from the Ulster plantation of Ireland in 1774. The hardships the must have faced from the time they landed on the shores of Maryland and made their journey along the trails of the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina just in time for service in the American Revolutinary War.
Let me say "Thank you" James Webb for taking the time and making the effort to write this book. You are a great author with a wonderful story to tell. Dixie Lackey, Strawberry, Arizona

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

A Fantastic Book!, February 18, 2005
Reviewer: Slick (Charlotte, NC, USA) - See all my reviews
I am Scots-Irish. My 5th Great Grandfather came over from Londonderry Ireland as a teenager, fought in the Revolutionary war, and settled in Georgia. My family history is a near textbook case as is described in this book. I knew very little of the history of the Scots-Irish culture before reading it and it opened my eyes to a better understanding of my own family history and this country as a whole.

This book has two themes that carry it through. The main theme is the history of the Scots-Irish culture and how it influenced the founding of the United States and gave it the basis for defining itself as "the American way of life". The second theme, which is occasionally intermixed while telling the history is the author's own family history of being Scots-Irish and particularly the lessons, taught him by his father. In my opinion, this family history is not in any way distracting from the book, nor is it the author boasting of his accomplishments, which another reviewer has erroneously commented.

If you are of a conservative political viewpoint, then you will appreciate this book as it helps to give a good historical overview of what the basis is for conservatism in light of today's polarizing politics. If you are of a liberal view, I also highly recommend as a way to gain an understanding of us "stupid, ignorant, rednecks that live in the Red States" and why we vote the way we do.

I loved this book and I bought a second copy just to pass around to friends so that they may be "enlightened" to a more unknown, but very influential culture.

If you are Scots-Irish (in part or as a whole) in your heritage, this is a MUST READ BOOK!


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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Volunteers and Tar Heels, February 18, 2005
Reviewer: Jones Webb (Lawrenceville, Ga.) - See all my reviews

I certainly can recommend Born Fighting having purchased six copies for my children and grand children. Nowhere have I found a more readable and complete summary of the history for those twenty or more families making up our Scots-Irish ancestors. Our relatives who were "Volunteers" in Tennessee and "Tar Heels" in North Carolina understood what the words "Born Fighting " meant.

Whether we are called mountaineers, hill billies or "Scotch-Irish" we have fought and died for our country and those causes that we believed in for which we take great pride.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Now I Know Where I Get It, February 17, 2005
Reviewer: Drugstore Cowgirl (High Country WY USA) - See all my reviews
This is one terrific book. I bought a copy of it for my mother and my daughter so that they could read the history of the people we came from and that explains why we sometimes behave the way we do as well as some very familiar characteristics. It is a book about Americans who know what it is to be American and who are profoundly grateful to be so. A great companion piece to "Steel Bonnets" and "Womenfolk" also. Thanks Captain Webb and yes, we do need to cooperate.

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[Laeg]

Born Fighting Currently in 10th Printing:

"James Webb, a legendary fighting man, tells a remarkable story - how the Scots-Irish and their fighting faith in America shaped the great nation we are today. His profound insights deepen our understanding not only of this unique people, but also of America's past and present. " JOHN McCAIN, United States Senator

"James Webb writes like Scots-Irish warriors take to the battlefield--with power and purpose, with courage and clarity. Born Fighting delights and inspires; in reading it I learned more about my nation, my family, and myself. James Webb is a Warrior-Poet, and he has written an extraordinary book." RANDALL WALLACE, author of Braveheart and Love & Honor

“BORN FIGHTING is a bombshell – or else the most brilliant battle flare ever launched by a book. James Webb reveals the all-but-invisible ethnic group that has created the core beliefs of democracy American style: our rights come from God not the Government; all of us are born equal and ‘born aristocrats’ don’t exist; and tread on either of those two truths, and we’ll fight you down to the last unbroken hyoid bone. The Scots-Irish (for such is their name) have fought all our wars for us, including Vietnam. James Webb was there, and he can count. He has written not only an engrossing story but also an important work of sociological history in the tradition of the great James Graham Leyburn.” TOM WOLFE

[Celyn]

Originally posted by Laeg
Iam just thinking,maybe I should have had this on the Literature section. But it is History at the same time. One of those ones--sorta fits into both sections. Anyway heres some reviews about what I thought was a great book.


...........

I'll leave it in "History", I think - it might spark an interesting discussion here, whereas the "Literature and Film" forum does rather seem to be primarily concerned with works of fiction.

Jings - you do like this book, don't you, Laeg - did you write it, or what?




(Interesting to see that Tom Wolfe likes it - that's quite a recommendation.)

[Laeg]

Ha I wish I had Celyn. Now going into its 10th printing. I'd be worth a wee fortune by now lol.

No, I just think its a good book,about an oft time maligned and misrepresented people. I like his style of writing too,some of the academic people don't.

Lets not forget, he is basically a man of action. Not an academic.