Moonshine 'Till Dawn, a book review

[Hillbilly Rebel]

Moonshine 'Till Dawn by V. Donald Elam
Copyright 1977

This is a 158 page book with a good selection of photos, mostly of stills and still sites. Some in working condition, some having already been visited by the G Man. The author was a moonshiner for 49 years as of the time of his writing the book. It is centered on his activities in and around Bibb County, Alabama. He was a big time operator sometimes having 5 or 6 stills of from 600 to 2400 gallons running at a particular site at the same time. The stills seem to be of the submarine type, but usually above ground instead of buried. He refers to his activities as "honest" work but doesn't try to justify the three people he shot during his career or numerous assaults. He does not discuss the actual mechanics of making 'shine or how to make stills. His book is really a no nonsense history of his own exploits told in a straight forward style. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars based upon being told by someone who was a moonshiner who walked the walk, not just a researcher recounting what other people told him/her.