The Feud

The Hatfields and McCoys: The True Story

By: Dean King

Narrated by: Dan Woren

For more than a century, the enduring feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys has been American shorthand for passionate, unyielding, and even violent confrontation. Yet despite numerous articles, books, television shows, and feature films, nobody has ever told the in-depth true story of this legendarily fierce-and far-reaching-clash in the heart of Appalachia. Drawing upon years of original research, including the discovery of previously lost and ignored documents and interviews with relatives of both families, bestselling author Dean King finally gives us the full, unvarnished tale, one vastly more enthralling than the myth.

Unlike previous accounts, King's begins in the mid-nineteenth century, when the Hatfields and McCoys lived side-by-side in relative harmony. Theirs was a hardscrabble life of farming and hunting, timbering and moonshining-and raising large and boisterous families-in the rugged hollows and hills of Virginia and Kentucky. Cut off from much of the outside world, these descendants of Scots-Irish and English pioneers spoke a language many Americans would find hard to understand. Yet contrary to popular belief, the Hatfields and McCoys were established and influential landowners who had intermarried and worked together for decades.

When the Civil War came, and the outside world crashed into their lives, family members were forced to choose sides. After the war, the lines that had been drawn remained-and the violence not only lived on but became personal. By the time the fury finally subsided, a dozen family members would be in the grave. The hostilities grew to be a national spectacle, and the cycle of killing, kidnapping, stalking by bounty hunters, and skirmishing between governors spawned a legal battle that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court and still influences us today.

Filled with bitter quarrels, reckless affairs, treacherous betrayals, relentless mercenaries, and courageous detectives, The Feud is the riveting story of two frontier families struggling for survival within the narrow confines of an unforgiving land. It is a formative American tale, and in it, we see the reflection of our own family bonds and the lengths to which we might go in order to defend our honor, our loyalties, and our livelihood.

Critic reviews

EXTRAORDINARY ACCLAIM FORSKELETONS ON THE ZAHARA:

"Dean King has brought to life one of the great true-life adventure stories-a riveting tale of suffering and redemption."—Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory

"A page-turner."—Washington Post Book World

"It reads like a cross between Master and Commander and Lawrence of Arabia."—People

"One of the most absorbing and satisfying books to come out in a very long time...King has a lovely and vibrant sense of history and an unusual talent for evoking the past-its essence as well as the smells, sights, and sounds...a marvelous account of fortitude and faith."—Martin Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle

"Rousing, Page-turning...A whopper of an endurance story."—Seattle Weekly

An Uplifting End to a Tragic Tale

As the description says, “Drawing upon years of original research, including the discovery of previously lost and ignored documents and interviews with relatives of both families, bestselling author Dean King finally gives us the full, unvarnished tale” of the feud. It was tough to listen to at times, but the book ended on an uplifting and positive note that I couldn’t possibly have expected.

Excellent work!

An incredible undertaking to put this together. Great listen! Thank you for all the hard work and years bringing it together.

Informative but Disturbing

Riveting - these were some seriously dysfunctional families. It is a sad, sad, and depressing tale.

great feeling/perfect accent

fascinating story and detail you almost need a family tree in front of you while listening to the story to be able to follow all the connections

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Deep Dive Into My Wild Family Tree
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As someone who’s both a Hatfield and a McCoy (yes, seriously), I was especially thankful for a well-researched book like The Feud. It takes a thoughtful, deeper look into the blurred lines between folklore and fact—something that’s often missing from pop culture retellings of this infamous rivalry.

That said, keeping track of what feels like a thousand “feudists” was no easy task. Who did what to who, and why, and then who retaliated when—it’s a lot. But still, it’s a fascinating, gritty, and important telling of a story that shaped more than just a couple of last names.

If you're ready for a history book with drama, bloodlines, and a whole lot of “you’re not gonna believe this,” this one delivers.