Alex Stewart was a recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship Award in 1983 by the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington which recognized him as a living national treasure. Over a twenty year period of friendship the author developed a profound respect and great love for Alex Stewart; a truly remarkable Tennessee mountain character whose life epitomizes the pioneer development in America. The best of hundreds of hours of recorded conversations with Stewart are compiled into a moving portrait of this cooper; father of 13; farmer; logger; railroad man; and do-it-yourself interpreter of his rugged homeland. Because the ways Stewart tells his own stories are as important as the stories themselves; he is allowed to do most of the "talking" throughout the book. Through his own account of the people around him; Alex describes his rural life in the late 19th and 20th centuries through stories such as when he was bit by a rabid dog; when neighbor children begged for food; or how people gathered honey; made marbles; moonshine or furniture. Throughout his 94 years; Alex; who died in 1985; depended upon his own good sense to direct him and it led him through a rich and fascinating life. This book is a genuine labor of love.
#1123989 in Books R.E. Krieger Pub. Co. 1979-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 2 7.50 x 4.50 x .50l; .35 #File Name: 0882757490192 pages
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. First rate intellectBy John FennellyAs always ambassador Keenan displayed insight ; cultural understanding and a deep understanding of Russian history. Free from ideological bias ; possessed of an uncommon ability to write coherently ; he was a first rate historian. Of course ; the goverment did not listen.
