From the publisher: “Frome’s superbly written account tells the story of the Great Smoky Mountains and their inhabitants—Eastern Cherokee, back-country settlers, lumbermen, moonshiners, bears, and boars. Frome chronicles the power struggles, legislation, and land transactions surrounding the creation of the national park and discusses the continuing threats to the park’s natural beauty. The author brings his knowledge, experience, and insights to bear on “one of God’s special places.” He suggests alternatives to commercial overdevelopment and the destruction of the Great Smokies’ flora and fauna. Always emphasizing our inevitable relationship with our surroundings, Frome relates the story of the Great Smoky Mountains with respect and affection for the region, its people, and their history.”