Fielding Burke (1869–1968)

This collection of stories is semi-autobiographical. The author was an "enlightened intellectual" who came to live in the Smokies in the early 20th century. Much to her surprise, she learned as much from her local neighbors as they learned from her. "Serena and Wild Strawberries" is one of my very favorite short stories ever, and reveals how Dargan came to respect the Smokies region and its people.
Anyone traveling to the mountain biking "mecca" Tsali Recreational Area on Fontana Lake passes right by the mountain were Dargan lived and farmed for several decades. Her books written under the pseudonym, Fielding Burke, are also exceptional. "Call Home the Heart" tells of mountain people who moved east to the mill town of Gastonia and got caught up in the textile strikes.… (altro)