The Old German Baptist Brethren: Faith, Farming, and Change in the Virginia Blue Ridge - Tapa dura

"This fair and richly researched analysis provides insight into a unique religious minority and their alternative witness against the hidden costs of industrialized agriculture and suburban development in the United States."--Journal of Southern History "Thompson's book is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a religious community in America. His work will be of interest to oral historians, who will be pleased that his contextualization of each narrative includes narrative description of the activities, location, and even weather during his interview."--Journal of Folklore Research

This work features a traditional community's struggle to define itself in the face of agricultural change. Since arriving nearly 250 years ago in Franklin County, Virginia, German Baptists have maintained their faith and farms by relying on their tightly knit community for spiritual and economic support. Today, with their land and livelihoods threatened by the encroachment of neighboring communities, the construction of a new highway, and competition from corporate megafarms, the German Baptists find themselves forced to adjust.