This wonderful book was compiled and produced by Irmgard Best in 1972 and reissued in 1973 in an updated version which, it is my understanding, she used in her Appalachian Studies classes at Berea College. This book also served as a primary impetus for her husband, my friend Bill Best, to produce his later book, "100 Years Of Appalachian Visions", which I discussed in the post at the preceding link. This book will be very difficult to locate but it can be done. I found my copy on one of the national used book websites. If you decide you are actively interested in reading and owning it, don't pass up the first copy you find because you may well never find another. The book is comprised of essays, poetry, and a rare piece of fiction from both some of the most well known experts of Appalachia and Appalachian Culture as well as some pieces from native Appalachians whose names will not ring a bell for anyone other than their occasional relatives. The book was produced by Irmgard Best in a stapled paper format with a heavier paper for the covers and what I believe to be 20 pound paper for the 215 pages of paper content. Due to the stapled format, do not expect to find a copy in "Fine" or "Very Fine Condition". Count yourself lucky if you find one at all.
The book contains a one page introduction by Irmgard Best and a combination of essays, fiction, and poetry from about 25 people including some of the leading figures in the early development of Appalachian Studies. The list includes Don West, Loyal Jones, Cratis D. Williams, Emma Miles, Wilma Dykeman, and Jim Wayne Miller. For me, the most interesting piece is an early version of the essay which later became one of my favorite books, "Appalachian Values" by Loyal Jones. I have written extensively on the topic of this work and Loyal Jones even blessed me with a copy of his forty year retrospective on that book which he wrote by request for the administration of Berea College. At the time Loyal Jones gave me that copy of his recent essay, he also suggested that I write my own response to it which is found at the link above. The essay in Irmgard Best's book gives the scholar who is familiar with the Jones book an interesting insight into his thought processes concerning "Appalachian Values" as both he and the book aged. You can also go to the link on the bottom of the front page of this blog called "Links To Other Sites About Appalachia" and find links to two essays I co-wrote with Dr. Heather Ambrose, Ph. D., one of my former professors, about "Culturally Appropriate Counseling In Appalachia: The Need And How To Address It" and "Clinical Supervision of Counselors In Appalachia: A Culturally Appropriate Model". Those essays are on the permanent online data base for professional counselors of the American Counseling Association and are frequently cited and quoted by other Appalachian professionals. They are based almost totally on the work in Loyal Jones' book.
An essay by Wilma Dykeman called "The Professor And The Hunter" is also one of my favorite pieces in the book. Without going into a long winded discussion of the essay it describes the relationship between a local mountain hunter in the Smoky Mountains and a professor from outside the region who worked in that area for many years and culminates in the hunter searching in the mountains for the professor until he was able to locate his body. It is a powerful piece of writing and ties in strongly to works on Appalachian Culture and Values, especially those related to sense of duty, loyalty, and friendship. There is also a quite interesting essay by Cratis D. Williams called "Mountaineers Mind Their Manners" which can serve as a great introduction to the work of the man many credit with being the most important early figure in the field of Appalachian Studies. I have also written extensively recently on this blog about the work of Cratis D. Williams. I strongly recommend "Tales From Sacred Wind" by Cratis D. Williams both for its authenticity and its humor.
Admittedly, some of the essays in this book can be said to be a bit dated today due to the fact that the book is almost fifty years old. But the book, and every essay in it are well worth reading if you are a student of Appalachia and Appalachian Culture. I hope you can find a copy either in a good library with a focus on Appalachian Studies or locate your own copy on a used book site. If you get your hands on a copy, please be sure when you are done with it that you make certain it is preserved for posterity by passing it on to a younger student of the region or to a library which will commit to preserving it.
The book contains a one page introduction by Irmgard Best and a combination of essays, fiction, and poetry from about 25 people including some of the leading figures in the early development of Appalachian Studies. The list includes Don West, Loyal Jones, Cratis D. Williams, Emma Miles, Wilma Dykeman, and Jim Wayne Miller. For me, the most interesting piece is an early version of the essay which later became one of my favorite books, "Appalachian Values" by Loyal Jones. I have written extensively on the topic of this work and Loyal Jones even blessed me with a copy of his forty year retrospective on that book which he wrote by request for the administration of Berea College. At the time Loyal Jones gave me that copy of his recent essay, he also suggested that I write my own response to it which is found at the link above. The essay in Irmgard Best's book gives the scholar who is familiar with the Jones book an interesting insight into his thought processes concerning "Appalachian Values" as both he and the book aged. You can also go to the link on the bottom of the front page of this blog called "Links To Other Sites About Appalachia" and find links to two essays I co-wrote with Dr. Heather Ambrose, Ph. D., one of my former professors, about "Culturally Appropriate Counseling In Appalachia: The Need And How To Address It" and "Clinical Supervision of Counselors In Appalachia: A Culturally Appropriate Model". Those essays are on the permanent online data base for professional counselors of the American Counseling Association and are frequently cited and quoted by other Appalachian professionals. They are based almost totally on the work in Loyal Jones' book.
An essay by Wilma Dykeman called "The Professor And The Hunter" is also one of my favorite pieces in the book. Without going into a long winded discussion of the essay it describes the relationship between a local mountain hunter in the Smoky Mountains and a professor from outside the region who worked in that area for many years and culminates in the hunter searching in the mountains for the professor until he was able to locate his body. It is a powerful piece of writing and ties in strongly to works on Appalachian Culture and Values, especially those related to sense of duty, loyalty, and friendship. There is also a quite interesting essay by Cratis D. Williams called "Mountaineers Mind Their Manners" which can serve as a great introduction to the work of the man many credit with being the most important early figure in the field of Appalachian Studies. I have also written extensively recently on this blog about the work of Cratis D. Williams. I strongly recommend "Tales From Sacred Wind" by Cratis D. Williams both for its authenticity and its humor.
Admittedly, some of the essays in this book can be said to be a bit dated today due to the fact that the book is almost fifty years old. But the book, and every essay in it are well worth reading if you are a student of Appalachia and Appalachian Culture. I hope you can find a copy either in a good library with a focus on Appalachian Studies or locate your own copy on a used book site. If you get your hands on a copy, please be sure when you are done with it that you make certain it is preserved for posterity by passing it on to a younger student of the region or to a library which will commit to preserving it.
No comments:
Post a Comment