Book Review: The Miracle of Brasstown Valley
Review by DR. JOHN P. NICHOLS

Gov. Zell Miller's latest book The Miracle of Brass Town Valley, will probably have a much smaller audience than his previous six books, two of which made the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Miller, with history professor credentials, describes the book as a true story of the miraculous creation of a college in a remote mountain valley at the turn of the 19th century and the captivating characters who with the grace of god, made it happen; the Methodist circuit rider, still in his 20's, who came into th valley riding a mule; a wise soft-spoken widow who breathed life into the infant school; a wealthy church layman whose generosity for Christian education was great; and a college president who was more at home on the farm with his britches legs rolled up.

In telling the story of the creation of Young Harris College, the author weaves together a story that promotes the heritage of the North Georgia mountains.

As a descendent of a pioneer Brasstown Valley family (Adam A. Nichols, 1798-1862) I found the book historically accurate and intellectually inspiring.

Miller's love for his heritage is evidenced by his placing on the book cover a portrait by his mother, Birdie Bryan Miller. The scene depicts Double Knob mountain and the stream from which the widowed Mrs. Miller gathered stones to build a home for her children, Jane and Zell,

The author acknowledges he took some liberties when he concludes in the foreword - while all the people, places and events are real, in some instances I have filtered their undocumented words spoken long ago through my imagination. But as we say in the mountains, this is "pert near" how it happened.

The book is a "must" read for the serious student of Appalachian history and culture. Thank you Zell and Shirley for loving and living your mountain "roots"!