Additional information
by Gurney Norman (Author)
Published in 1977 by Gnomon Press.Kinfolks is a novelistic collection of short stories centered around Wilgus Collier, a young boy growing up in rural Kentucky during the 1940s and 1950s. The stories follow Wilgus from childhood into his early adulthood, exploring his relationships with his extended family and his Appalachian community. Gurney Norman introduces readers to Wilgus's world through a series of vignettes that depict experiences with his family, particularly his parents and grandparents. These stories highlight the challenges and joys of rural life, offering a poignant look at complex family dynamics and the deep-rooted traditions of Appalachia. Throughout the book, Norman's writing is characterized by its rich, evocative descriptions of the Appalachian landscape and its authentic portrayal of the region's culture and people. Kinfolks--adapted for the screen as The Wilgus Stories--is celebrated for vivid storytelling that captures the essence of life in Kentucky coal country.
Author Biography
Gurney Norman is a novelist and short-story writer whose works include Divine Right's Trip, Ancient Creek: A Folktale, and Allegiance: Stories. He is an emeritus professor of English at the University of Kentucky and a former Kentucky poet laureate. A native of eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia, he was the recipient of a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing at Stanford University. Norman has received many honors for his work and is a widely known Appalachian literary and cultural advocate. He is a coeditor of Back Talk from Appalachia: Confronting Stereotypes and An American Vein: Critical Readings in Appalachian Literature.
