This is my favorite book on early life along the Cumberland Valley (Middle Tennessee and lower Central Kentucky), especially after getting past Chapter One, which is an imaginary narration of an "early adventure" which seemed unnecessary. That is a small complaint though. The book has some really interesting information on all aspects of settlement of the area and I highly recommend it! Many of the details described are applicable to pioneer life in other areas east of the Mississippi as well, I would think.

This is Arnow's companion volume to her SEEDTIME ON THE CUMBERLAND. While SEEDTIME focuses on physical aspects of pioneering, i.e., food, clothing, shelter, the struggle against Indians and governments, FLOWERING emphasizes social institutions and activities that required the early settlers to interact with other people as a society, i.e., communication, education, industry, and trade. Home life as a focal point is reiterated, and the transplanting of Old World culture into the Cumberland River region is stressed. Primary sources, as well as some unpublished materials, are cited. The treatment, however, seems somewhat romantic and not critical, almost like a novel. In essence, Arnow is telling the story or stories of these early pioneers. The material is structured topically.