The Ohio River

By John Ed Pearce and Richard Nugent

Book Overview

Here -- in haunting words and pictures -- is the story of the river and of the people and places along its shores. From its birth at Pittsburgh in the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, the Ohio flows nearly a thousand miles, gathering the waters of its tributaries, carving a pathway through the land, giving rise to cities, forming the boundaries of five states, and finally emptying into the Mississippi to complete its journey to the sea. This powerful river shaped the history, the culture, and the character of those who followed the river's lure in the eighteenth century and those who make their homes beside it today. It was the first great pathway to the West, the trail of danger, the highway of hope. The Ohio today flows through the industrial heartland of the United States. Drawn by the power of this great river, writer John Ed Pearce and photographer Richard Nugent have traveled the Ohio from Pittsburgh to Cairo and back, seeking out the scenes, the echoes of history, the rhythms of life for those who call the Ohio home. This book is the record of their discoveries -- on the river itself and in the villages and cities and farmlands that form it shores.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813116937
• ISBN13: 9780813116938
• Release Date: October 1989
• Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 2.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 9.4" x 12.3"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A lovely journey

This book is a look at the Ohio River and its lore by two men who loved the river and were close friends. I lived in the area these men are from during the time they were working on the book, and the photographer was a friend of mine. John Ed Pearce was a wonderful writer, a legend in Kentucky. Rich Nugent is a talented and insightful photographer. They were best friends for years, which gives the book an intimacy and connectedness between words and photos that many such books lack. The book is not meant to be a definitive overview of the river, the state or anything, really. It's a journey, two men sharing knowledge and discoveries about another friend - the Ohio River. Think of it as sitting with them as they troll down the flowing waters, listening to John Ed share his knowledge and thoughts while gazing at the views through Rich's eyes. It's a lovely tribute to an awe-inspiring river and the people and places along it. I think it's a wonderful book, and I still pick it up at times to share the journey again.

Ambling Along the Ohio

Having moved to Ohio just four years ago, I came across this book in a local library. The author and photographer actually rode the river from Pittsburg to Cairo where the Ohio meets the Mississippi. The text and photos reflect their ambling journey -and the two are not necessarily related on each page. "The Ohio River" shows the river and the people as they once were and as they are. Some photos are exhilarating while others are quit pensive and even sad. If you are a river enthusiast or a lover of the Ohio, you will want this book for your coffee table.

Cruising the Ohio

Having moved to Ohio just four years ago, I came across this book in a local library. The author and photographer actually rode the river from Pittsburg to Cairo where the Ohio meets the Mississippi. The text and photos reflect their ambling journey -and the two are not necessarily related on each page."The Ohio River" shows the river and the people as they once were and as they are. Some photos are exhilarating while others are quit pensive and even sad.If you are a river enthusiast or a lover of the Ohio, you will want this book for your coffee table.