Listen Here: Women Writing in Appalachia

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.