Book Description

In contrast to the generally negative view of Appalachia as a subculture of hopeless poverty and deprivation, this book shows a very different picture. Roy Anderson was a resourceful though poor farmer, but also a talented cabinetmaker, musical instrument maker, and lay preacher, and at age 80 he tells with modesty the story of his life. Roy's words are accompanied by evocative black and white photographs?descriptive of his life with his sister on the farm, his cabinet shop, the community, and his church life. They give a pictorial dimension to a hard but enterprising life lived with dignity on one of the few remaining small farms in a particular community in southwestern Virginia. Roy begins by telling of his earliest memories. As these are becoming things of the past, we can all learn a great deal about life in Roy's time and place while gaining insight into an inspiring life in a rich American culture most of us would like to know more about.