…the forensic study of Gone With the Wind…on the trail of Tara

There are many books available on the subject of Gone With the Wind but for those who want to connect the history with the book and movie (as I have done) may I suggest the following four books to get you started and put you on a path of the forensic study…of Gone With the Wind.

I would of course start with a copy of Margaret Mitchell’s, Gone With the Wind to understand the story line (and impress your friends when they find out you read Big Books). Get a cheap copy to reference because you will find yourself writing in the margins and you don’t want to ruin and early printing worth lots of money.

Secondly, look for a used copy of Richard Harwell’s,  Letters from Margaret Mitchell, 1936-1949. The author was a friend of Mitchel’s and brings together a host of fine correspondence which answers a lot of questions. My favorite (and the one that started my quest) is from 1936 where Margaret says, “practically all of the incidences in GWTW are true”.

Next, I would pick up a copy of David O’Connell’s book, The Irish Roots of Gone With the Wind. David gives much information and family history back to Phillip Fitzgerald (the model for Gerald O’Hara) and Rural Home, Margaret’s vision of her Tara (the Fitzgerald House which is presently in the barn with the Tara facade waiting to be restored).

Finally I would suggest my first book, Lost in Yesterday which makes the connections to the family history, the Civil War and Margaret statements about the stories being real. It was the first three books that got me started on my quest to create the GWTW Tour and my book was the written version of that tour. And it was my tour and book that provided me with the knowledge and experience to create the Saving Tara Project and begin the restoration of Tara and the Fitzgerald House. So you see, all three of the previous books have a part in my books and the Saving Tara Project. 

Lost in Yesterday (as well as the other books) are available at Amazon.com and other retailers. My book is available (signed) if you purchase thru my peterbonner website. 

Peter