5 Best Historical Fiction Books Set in the Great Smoky Mountains—Including a Dolly Parton Favorite!
From coal mining towns to resilient heroines, these reads capture the heart of Appalachia!
Key Takeaways
- Discover five must-read historical fiction novels set in the Great Smoky Mountains.
- Explore Appalachian stories of hardship, resilience, family and hope.
- Travel through Smoky Mountain history, from logging towns to national parkland.
There are few places in America filled with as much beauty and storied history as the Great Smoky Mountains. Stretching across Tennessee and North Carolina, the mist-covered peaks, winding mountain roads and foggy valleys are an integral part of the eastern American landscape—and they provide a particularly captivating backdrop for sweeping historical fiction books. From its Indigenous roots and logging era to the launch of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1926, the region holds thousands of years of stories shaped by hardship, resilience and hope.
Generations of people have called this part of the country home while struggling to make ends meet. Appalachia was also home to beloved country legend Dolly Parton. Dolly famously grew up in a two-room shack in the foothills of Sevier County and she carried the spirit of the Smokies throughout her life and work. So it’s no wonder Southern author Lee Smith, who writes beautifully about Appalachia, was one of Dolly’s go-to authors.
Ready to turn back the clock and escape into a story set in the mountains? You’re in the right place! Here, we gathered up 5 must-read historical fiction books set in the Great Smoky Mountains. Keep reading for our top picks.
‘Christy’ by Catherine Marshall
First published in 1967, this beloved novel has sold more than 10 million copies. The book, based on Catherine Marshall’s mother’s life, remains an American fiction classic and was made into a TV movie starring Kellie Martin in 1994.
This Smoky Mountain-set novel follows 19-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston as she leaves Asheville, North Carolina, in 1912, for the remote Smoky Mountain settlement of Cutter Gap, Tennesee—a place rooted in poverty and tradition. As she works to educate local children, Christy faces suspicion from those who see change as a threat. Her faith is tested—at the same time her heart is pulled between two suitors.
What readers are saying: “This is a Christian story set in the turn of the 20th century Appalachia. Very believable, very suspenseful, very engaging. It has been one of my favorite novels for at least 50 years, and to this day I can vividly recall vignettes from the book.”
‘Appalachian Song’ by Michelle Shocklee
Readers are transported to 1943 East Tennessee in this tender and emotional story penned by award-winning author Michelle Shocklee. Midwife Bertie Jenkins takes in Songbird, a frightened teenage mother in desperate need of help. As Bertie and her sisters care for her, an unexpected family bond forms…until a heartbreaking choice changes everything. Three decades later, country music star Walker Wylie discovers he was adopted and sets out with adoption advocate Reese Chandler to uncover the truth. Their search leads them deep into Appalachia, where Bertie may hold the answers to Walker’s past. A sweeping story about sacrifice, family and secrets steeped in the beauty of the Smokies.
What readers are saying: “Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee is a Christian historical fiction novel that vividly portrays life in the Appalachian Mountains during the 1930s. The story centers on Birdie, a midwife, and her sisters as they face the hardships of the Great Depression. Shocklee’s research shines through as she weaves a story rich in the culture, traditions and resilience of Appalachian life.”
‘Cataloochee’ by Wayne Caldwell
If you’re looking for a post-Civil War story set against the majestic Smoky mountains, Wayne Caldwell’s story is your ticket. Tucked away in the mountains of North Carolina sits Caraloochee. Two farming families, the Wrights and the Carters, travel to the valley to escape the growth of neighboring towns and to have a few hundred acres to call their own. s the years go on, progress makes its way to Cataloochee. In the 1880s, an ambitious young man named Ezra arrives in town. He’s looking for land, and he plans to marry Hannah Carter. As their family grows, they transform the wilderness into a home that will be passed on through generations. But when the government steps in to relocate people ahead of building Great Smoky Mountain National Park, an unimaginable event unfolds.
What readers are saying: “I bet you thought Cataloochee was a word that the author made-up. I certainly did. Nope, we’re wrong. It is a valley, actually two valleys, Big and Little Cataloochee, situated in that portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that is located in North Carolina. Many characters in Caldwell’s novel are based on real people and the plot is derived from the valley’s historical record, essentially from the Civil War to 1928. A couple of things that I most admire about the book is Caldwell’s wry sense of humor and his grasp of the vernacular of the place and the times.”
‘Serena’ by Ron Rash
Set against the rugged beauty of the North Carolina Smoky mountains, Serena—which served as inspiration for the 2014 movie of the same name starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper—follows two ruthless newlyweds. In 1929, George and Serena Pemberton get married and leave Boston behind to build a timber empire—and Serena swiftly proves she’s every bit as dangerous as her husband. But when she learns she can never have children, her ambition takes a dark turn as she goes after George’s illegitimate son, setting off a battle that threatens to destroy everything they’ve built.
What readers are saying: “Not being able to put a book down is my litmus test for a great read! When I wasn’t reading this book, I simply couldn’t wait to get back to it! It has a little bit of everything: intrigue, suspense, intense love, greed—all set against the backdrop of timber barons in the 30s and the fight between eminent domain and industry. It was beautifully written, as well. I highly recommend it!”
‘Fair and Tender Ladies’ by Lee Smith
Lee Smith is an acclaimed American novelist known for her beautiful works set in the South and Appalachia—and she was Dolly Parton’s favorite author! Fair and Tender Ladies is an epistolary novel set against the backdrop of Appalachian life. From the moment Ivy Rowe is born on Blue Star Mountain, her lively emotional spirit is showcased through the letters she writes. As her talent for writing grows, she dreams of pursuing an education in the North. But after harsh criticism from other locals, she marries a childhood friend and returns to her family homestead. Here, she raises children and works the farm while still holding onto her dreams.
What readers are saying: “A very special thing about this book? The accurate and detailed picture drawn of a ‘mountain girl’s’ life in the South. Gorgeous writing about rural places including mountains and creeks and hollers. You don’t know what a holler is? In the Appalachians, this word is used for a valley region between two hills or mountains, often with a creek. Southern expressions and dialects created a stunning feeling of place as I read!”
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