'Spirits of Just Men' by Charles D. Thompson Jr.

“Spirits of Just Men” by Charles D. Thompson Jr. is a unique and in-depth look at the people behind the stills in prohibition era America. Focusing on Franklin County, Virginia a place still referred to as the moonshine capital of the world, Thompson examines how the moonshine business became a logical and sometimes only option for struggling farmers in the Blue Ridge Mountain area.

Thompson’s ancestors were involved in the moonshine business of the area. His grandfather revealed to him late in his life that he had been shot at many times while transporting moonshine. The idea that his own grandfather could be involved in such illegal acts drove Thompson to study the oral histories and archival materials to discover how good people could turn to breaking the law.

The end result is an effective illustration of life in Franklin County, a place completely abandoned by the federal government, and a thoughtful analysis of the many factors contributing to the moonshine business in the Appalachians. By following the story from Ireland to the pioneers, to the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935, Thompson breaks down Appalachian stereotypes and shows moonshiners were just farmers who turned their nearly worthless crops into a commodity.

Thompson combines analyses of the conspiracy trial, the absurd level of corruption of local officials, and the near absence of federal government to put the reader into the mind of the Appalachian farmer. By bringing several local characters very close to the reader, Thompson gives access to the mindset that allowed just men and women to engage in an illegal trade.

A fact-filled historical account with plenty of real characters to connect with, “Spirits of Just Men” kept me interested and had me rooting for the people of Endicott the whole way through.

If you are interested in depression-era America, blockading, or just looking for an intriguing non-fiction story, pick up this book and let Thompson introduce you to the people of Franklin County.