Synopsis
You've watched the miniseries. Now own a piece of the feud. This historical volume was used as source material, along with other important works, in the 2012 HISTORY channel documentary, America s Greatest Feud: The Hatfields and McCoys, directed by Mark Cowen and narrated by Kevin Costner. This volume represents the first biography of William Anderson Devil Anse Hatfield, penned by great-grandson Dr. Coleman C. Hatfield and noted Mountain State historian Robert Y. Spence. It was edited by F. Keith Davis, who also co-authored the national best selling book, The Feuding Hatfields & McCoys. Tale of the Devil is the epic story of Hatfield family patriarch Anse Hatfield and covers his varied service in the Civil War, including his time as captain of the Logan Wildcats. It features in-depth coverage of the feud years, as well as the era after the gunfire ceased. In recognition for his exhaustive investigation of the subject matter, Dr. Coleman C. Hatfield was named Tamarack Author of the Year in 2004. For this work, Dr. Hatfield also relies heavily upon the records and written research of his father, C.A. Hatfield, the son of Cap Hatfield and grandson of Devil Anse Hatfield. C.A. also spent his adult years studying his family history and interviewing family members, including his father and grandfather.
Review
This collaborative effort of Coleman C. Hatfield and Robert Y. Spence, The Tale Of The Devil, is the factual biography of Devil Anse Hatfield, and the role he played in the infamous and brutal Hatfield and McCoy feud. Coleman Hatfield is Devil Anse Hatfield's direct descendant and brings a special and personal expertise to this project. The Tale Of The Devil candidly examines this figure's early life, the origins of the Hatfield and McCoy feud, its brutal toll, denouement, and ultimate conclusion -- as well as the impact it has had on subsequent generations of Hatfields and McCoys. A profound, sometimes dark, yet often insightful life story, The Tale Of The Devil is a very highly recommended addition to American History and Biography collections. --Midwest Book Review
There is exciting news for all lovers of local folklore and American history alike. The fascinating tale of the life of one of West Virginia's most colorful figures, the patriarch of the famed feuding Hatfields, is available to the public. The Tale of the Devil is the story of the legendary Devil Anse Hatfield, beginning with his childhood in frontier Appalachia, describing his Civil War days as a Confederate soldier, painting a richly detailed background into just who this man was and from where he came. Then it gives a captivating and enlightening bird's-eye view of the Hatfield-McCoy feud, the killings, and the post-feud years when the shooting subsided. Because this manuscript gleans much of its information from grandson Coleman A. Hatfield's exhaustive manuscripts, journals, and audiotapes, which were compiled and collected over a lifetime, the story is fresh and entertaining to read and offers additional insider information, which has never before been published. Finally, the book features an index, bibliography, endnotes, and thirty pages of photographs many rare, including one particular photo of Devil Anse never before published, taken when he was about 35-years-old. The authors have sorted through the fables and exaggerations, studied Hatfield family accounts and documented history, and created a noteworthy biography. The story of Anderson Hatfield is appropriately told through a direct descendant. Likewise, the co-author, Robert Spence, is a resident of Logan County, and distantly related to Devil Anse, as well. --The Logan Banner, Logan, WV
As you've most certainly heard, a truce was signed on June 14th, 2003 at the Hatfield & McCoy Festival at Pikeville, KY, that received worldwide attention. As the ink was drying on the symbolic document, which announced the end to Appalachia's most infamous and violent family upheaval, the great-grandson of Anderson Devil Anse Hatfield, released additional evidence and historical facts surrounding the notorious family fuss. There is excitement around the Mountain State, and across the nation, among lovers of Appalachian folklore and American history alike. This long-awaited hardbound volume about the fascinating life of one of West Virginia s most colorful figures, Anderson Devil Anse Hatfield, the patriarch of the famed feuding Hatfield family, is the first of its kind. Because this manuscript gleans much of its information from Dr. Hatfield s father, C.A. Hatfield, and his exhaustive manuscripts, journals, and audiotapes, which were compiled and collected over a lifetime, the story is fresh and entertaining to read and offers insider info, which has never before been published. The book features an index, bibliography, endnotes, and thirty pages of rare family photographs. As surprising as it might sound, there has never been a biography of Anderson Devil Anse Hatfield. We believe this is an important scholarly offering for history bookshelves, being that it is authored by the grandson and great-grandson of Devil Anse Hatfield. If you enjoy American history, it just doesn't get any better than this title, The Tale of the Devil. --Williamson Daily News, Williamson, WV
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