Enjoy the bygone days of a time precariously nestled between the comforts of peace and the ever-present threat of impending war in 1939. Meander the dirt roads converging at the general store, where tall tales flow freely. A young parson from the Northeast arrives and receives an education from the mountaineers far beyond his "preacher schooling." The unsolicited courtin' assistance pushes his patience to the limits. Laugh with six brothers as they unconventionally live balancing compassion with tomfoolery; gaiety with grief; all while holding fast to a simple yet steadfast faith. A new resident arrives, not fitting the mold of a Greenbed woman; she clings to high fashion and longs for the social life she enjoyed in the big city. Her actions and attitudes alienate the residents from her husband's struggling store until she is forced to put her life into the hands of the most unlikely character in the mountain. The war touched the mountain community in a shocking manner they'd never imagined possible.

To Carolyn Brown s mind, the tall tale is not necessarily an account of the adventures of a larger-than-life hero, nor is it just a humorous first-person narrative exaggerated to outlandish proportions. It is as well an interaction between teller and audience a game played at the hazy border between the credible and the incredible, a challenge and an entertainment at the same time. The tall tale is also a social statement that identifies and binds a folk group by flaunting the peculiar knowledge and experiences of group members, and it is a tool for coping with a stressful or even chaotic world, for conquering life s problems by laughing at them.

Profiles of artists and performers from around the world form the basis of this innovative volume that explores the many ways individuals engage with, carry on, revive, and create tradition. Leading scholars in folklore studies consider how the field has addressed the connections between performer and tradition and examine theoretical issues involved in fieldwork and the analysis and dissemination of scholarship in the context of relationships with the performers. Honoring Henry Glassie and his remarkable contributions to the field of folklore, these vivid case studies exemplify the best of performer-centered ethnography.

Come to a world, a fantasyland that could be most anywhere, but is set in Virginia--but has never been seen in Virginia. It is a world that never could have been but seems as if it were real but is always based on humor and the impossible. Behind it is all about a room of people or animals that seem real, but each have a persona that is not real (with a couple of exceptions). A book where possums are seen as almost super-possums with many human aspects and with superhuman abilities, such as in the use of their almost-twenty-foot tail to the control they have over the people. There are colorful people such as Parviance, who does many things, and while he is incorrigible, Parviance is also shown to be very loving. All characters have their good and bad points. Behind it all is the vivid imagination of the chief character in the book, Warren Harding Graham. Remember, this book is at the beginning of his life and is setting out in later books to cover his entire life. Just as Mark Twain in his books described a world that was not true but also a world that described the whole life of America, this book is trying to do the same.

The essential insider's guide to exploring the Central Coast's wineries, restaurants, recreation, culture, and accommodations. The Central Coast is internationally recognized as one of the natural treasures of the West, offering craggy cliffs, ancient redwoods, and endless beaches to explore. This book, written by fourth- and fifth-generation Californians, takes travelers to some of the most sought-after destinations, including shops, inns, restaurants, and wineries known only to the locals until now. With a down-to-earth appreciation for their own stomping grounds, the authors write as enthusiastic guides, eager to share what they know and love about the region. Rich in detail, covering everything from the autumnal monarch butterfly migration to opera festivals, the best honky-tonk blues joints to fine dining steeped in tradition and elegance, this book homes in on an eclectic selection of what makes this strip of coastline one of the most desired destinations in the world.

A collection of the linguist's articles on English in Science and Technology (EST) written between 1978 and 1994 and published in different countries. The primary areas of her research are represented here: lexicology and phraseology, text linguistics, stylistics, and diachronic LSP studies. Emphasizing an integrated approach to genre analysis, the articles are unique for the extensive text corpora and the resulting genre profiles. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR