A main theme that is prominent from the very first scene of the book is the land. Throughout part one and the entire Kentucky cycle the land is always there although it changes as different people take control of it and different things happen on the land. Initially it is used for farming by the Rowens who work the land with their own hands. The Talberts acquire the land and use it for share cropping, making the previous owners of the land, the Rowens into share croppers. The land has also seen a lot of blood spilled on it and in conflict for possession of it Michael Rowen kills his friend and also and Indian tribe to acquire the land. Later on the Rowens kill some Talberts in conflict over the land and also when they take back the land from the Talberts after having been share croppers for quite some time. Another major theme that kind of follows from the mention of the land is the violence. There is so much bloodshed fighting over the land and also between the family members of those occupying the land. It is perpetuating a stereotype of violent tendencies on Appalachian in its overemphasis of violence. There is also a theme of the thinking of family doesn’t change they keep following the same pattern over and over throughout time with the violence and desire to keep the land in the family.