Three days before Christmas in 1831, Frankie Silver killed her
husband, Charles Silver, with an axe and burned his body in the
fireplace. Author Perry Deane Young, whose ancestors were involved
in the case, began collecting material about it as a teenager. As a
college student, he was astounded to learn that most of what he had
been told was actually false. Abused by her husband, Frankie killed
in self defense. The laws of that time would not allow her to take
the stand and explain what happened. She was unjustly hanged in
July of 1833. Young proves the real crime is the way this poor
woman has been misrepresented by balladeers and historians all
these years.
"Perry Deane Young provides important historical background to
this fascinating story... Young is able to build suspense, even for
a story many of his readers may already know...By personalizing
both Frankie Silver's story and his own search for it, Young has
given readers an interesting and well-written book about history
and the way it is created." --Lynn Moss Sanders in Appalachian
Journal
"Most of my life I've heard stories about a pretty mountain
lady who was hanged for nothing more serious than murdering her
husband. Here, and I can say at last after one and a half
centuries, is the true account, thoroughly researched and
beautifully presented. It's a highroad journey into this
Appalachian mystery." --John Ehle, author of The Land Breakers, The
Road, The Journey of August King
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