The Tale of the Devil

Book excerpt: The book represents the first biography of Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield, by great grandson Dr. Coleman Hatfield and noted Mountain State historian Robert Y. Spence. Tale of the Devil is the story of Hatfield family patriarch Devil Anse Hatfield. It covers his service in the Civil War as a Confederate officer for the Wildcats. The volume features in-depth coverage of the feud years, as well as the years after the gunfire seized. In recognition of this undertaking and his exhaustive investigation of the subject matter, Dr. Coleman C. Hatfield was named Tamarack Author of the Year in 2004. This book has also been recognized throughout the nation by book reviewers and historians-as well as governors and dignitaries-for its exceptional content and meticulous research.