Book Overview
There are many accents in Nashville: from the twang of country music and rockabilly to the well-bred tones of Belle Meade society. From Davy Crockett tales and the Agrarians to the Billboard Top 100 and Goo-Goo Clusters, Nashville is known around the world. Yet the true identity of the city is best realized through a reading of its fiction, memoir, poetry, and other writings spanning from frontier days to today. The real Nashville is last revealed in the pages of Literary Nashville through portraits of the city by 40 writers, including such vignettes as the William Price Fox story that inspired Robert Altman's classic, Nashville; John Berendt's portrait of the city's famous blue-blooded cross-dresser; Langston Hughes's telling of his first-ever reading in the South at Fisk University, Ann Patchett's memories of the Swan Ball, the country music tales of Bland Simpson and Lee Smith, the poetry of Nikki Giovanni and James Dickey, and much more.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1595340777
ISBN13:9781595340771
Release Date:August 2011
Publisher:Trinity University Press
Length:287 Pages
Weight:0.80 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 5.5" x 8.4"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
History of a city, through its literary history
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
I picked this book up while trolling through the library, and what a find! I have been to Nashville once, and the history didn't really stand out to me during my visit. I wish I had read this book first, as it paints a rich picture of Nashville's role in American history and the South. It hadn't dawned on me that Nashville was a frontier town until I read the early passages. As a new fan of old-time country music, there are some pretty interesting passages. My favorite, however, must be the excellent passages on race and racial issues in Nashville, particularly the Langston Hughes excerpt. Gives this book a shot if you are a fan of cultural history, especially in regards to the South and race.
Definitive History of Nashville letters
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
I am a recent transplant to Nashville (yeah, I play the guitar) and I was eager to read about the literary history of Nashville. There is so much more to the history of this city than Garth Brooks and Vandy fever. The editor has done a great job in seeking out "high" and "low"--the Fugitives to John Berendt--to present a well-balanced picture of this city. Funny, serious, old, and new--this is probably the defiitive history of Nash Vegas' literary scene.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
