cover image Redneck Heaven: Portrait of a Vanishing Culture

Redneck Heaven: Portrait of a Vanishing Culture

Bethany Bultman. Bantam Books, $14.95 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-553-37804-7

Bethany Bultman presents Redneck Heaven: Portrait of a Vanishing Culture, one that she asserts is ""much-maligned."" She spent five years in ""redneck"" territory, trying to discover who these people are. ""I met self-styled rednecks from every part of America, from Seattle to the Southwest to the Deep South to Maine and everywhere in between."" She concludes that rednecks are probably the descendants of Celts who came to the new world from the 17th century on. Bultman discusses values, traditions, religious conviction, politics, style and cuisine. She lists redneck likes and dislikes, including tastes in music, dress, decor and especially food. Who could resist the recipes for deep-fried turkey (heat oil ""until a wooden match ignites on contact""), Coca-Cola roast and the essential Spam treats? And the desserts are even better.