The French Broad has been called the classic example of an Appalachian mountain river and like most of the mountain region which surrounds it, nourishes paradox. That is the source of much of its allure- and despair. The French Broad is part of the famous Rivers of America Series published by Holt, Rinehart. There are more than 50 volumes in the series. In 1997, The French Broad was one of five honored by the Library of Congress at its Center for the Book.