Listen Here
Women Writing in Appalachia
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“A comprehensive and unsurpassed anthology of women writers from Appalachia . . . Exceptional in diversity and scope.” —Southern Historian
Listen Here: Women Writing in Appalachia is a landmark anthology that brings together the work of 105 Appalachian women writers, including Dorothy Allison, Harriette Simpson Arnow, Annie Dillard, Nikki Giovanni, Denise Giardina, Barbara Kingsolver, Jayne Anne Phillips, Janice Holt Giles, George Ella Lyon, Sharyn McCrumb, and Lee Smith. Editors Sandra L. Ballard and Patricia L. Hudson offer a diverse sampling of time periods and genres, established authors and emerging voices. From regional favorites to national bestsellers, this unprecedented gathering of Appalachian voices displays the remarkable talent of the region’s women writers who’ve made their mark at home and across the globe.
“A giant step forward in Appalachian studies for both students and scholars of the region and the general reader . . . Nothing less than a groundbreaking and landmark addition to the national treasury of American literature.” —Bloomsbury Review
“A remarkable accomplishment, bringing together the work of 105 female Appalachian writers saying what they want to, and saying it in impressive bodies of literature.” —Lexington Herald-Leader
“One of the keenest pleasures in Listen Here lies in its diversity of voices and genres.” —Material Culture
“Besides introducing readers to many new voices, the anthology provides a strong counterpart to the stereotype of hillbillies that have cursed the region.” —Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Full of welcome surprises to those new to this regional literature: specifically, it includes particularly strong selections from children’s fiction and a substantial number of African American writers.” —Choice
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The 105 writers in this anthology"have been relegated to the fringes of the American literary community, largely because their 'place'--Appalachia--continues to be viewed as outside the American mainstream," contend Ballard and Hudson in their introduction to this collection of writing by women from the Appalachian Mountains. Of course, not all Appalachian women writers are on the"fringes" of the literary community (Barbara Kingsolver, Dorothy Allison and Annie Dillard). But many, such as North Carolina ballad singer Sheila Kay Adams and Kentucky short story writer Lucy Furman, are relatively obscure. The editors wisely incorporate a mix of both famous and unfamiliar authors to present an impressive and stirring display of (mostly) contemporary writings by women whose"identities have been marked by life" in Appalachia. The subjects covered include nature, motherhood, poverty and sexuality. A brief biography introduces each contributor, making this a particularly helpful reference work.
