Family of Earth - by Wilma Dykeman (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Discovered as a typewritten manuscript only after her death in 2006, Family of Earth allows us to see into the young mind of author and Appalachian native Wilma Dykeman (1920-2006), who would become one of the American South's most prolific and storied writers. Focusing on her childhood in Buncombe County, Dykeman reveals a perceptive and sophisticated understanding of human nature, the environment, and social justice. And yet, for her words' remarkable polish, her voice still resonates as raw and vital. Against the backdrop of early twentieth-century life in Asheville, she chronicles the touching, at times harrowing, story of her family's fortunes, plotting their rise and fall in uncertain economic times and ending with her father's sudden death in 1934 when she was fourteen years old.

Featuring a new foreword by fellow North Carolinian Robert Morgan, Family of Earth stands as a new major literary work by a groundbreaking author.

Review Quotes

"A captivating, poetic, difficult-to-categorize book that abundantly showcases the author's talent for making words dance. Anyone who has lived in the countryside, or wished they had, will enjoy Dykeman's celebration of nature."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A fortunate find. . . . This memoir from a North Carolina treasure will keep you busy. There is much to think about and ponder in these pages."--Herald-Sun

"A gift to lovers of Appalachian lore."--Wilmington Star-News

"A haunting and exquisite book, not to mention a rare exception to the rule that no one so young should write a memoir. Even without much life experience, Dykeman has a great deal to say about life."--New York Times Book Review

"A wonderful introduction to Dykeman's works . . . for first-time readers and a welcome addition for fans."--Library Journal

"Dykeman's writing is. . . poignant and poetic and she leaves her reader with a deeper understanding of what it was like to grow up in the mountains of North Carolina during the Depression era."--Tennessee Libraries

"Explores the bonds of family, and a child's place in this great big world. . . . An ode to the captivating rhythms of nature."--Our State

"It's a gift that UNC Press has put the story that showcases the mind of a young author and Appalachian native into print."--Mountain Times

"The writing is pungent, earthy and raw yet at the same time elegant. . . . A quick read that will leave you wishing Dykeman had written more."--Carolina Mountain Life

"We are fortunate to have this remarkable beginning to a distinguished literary career, and an endearing addition to an ever-growing array of richly revealing Appalachian life stories.--Appalachian Journal

About the Author

Wilma Dykeman (1920-2006) was a novelist, historian, journalist, educator, speaker, and environmentalist who pioneered in the areas of water pollution, civil rights, oral history, Appalachian studies, and the empowerment of women.