Travels with Foxfire: Stories of People, Passions, and Practices from Southern Appalachia

Beginning in the 1970s, the Foxfire book and television series introduced Appalachian culture to an enthusiastic public; this latest installment continues the tradition with a group of comfortable, conversational vignettes from rural Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Hudgins and Phillips effectively serve Foxfire’s goal of preserving the Southern mountainous region’s traditions and folklore, with stories ranging from a lighthearted look at Carl “Feel Bad” Davis’s considerable tractor collection to the heartrending tale of a homeless medicine woman devoted to passing along her healing arts. Phillips conducted interviews, and the experienced Hudgins hews to the storytelling angle, basking in the banter over NASCAR’s link to moonshine running or the history of the bluegrass musical tradition. This low-key travelogue is especially timely, providing (largely nonpolitical) insight into the lives of hardworking people in coal country who desperately hope for better job opportunities. Some readers may be surprised by the breadth of material encompassed here; there are some chapters on African-American artistry and some on award-winning regional cooking (often including recipes). The collection ends abruptly, with no closing chapter, but anyone with an interest in Americana, history, or nature will appreciate these poignant and enjoyable stories of shared knowledge and traditions. (Aug.)