Wendell berry in a rural kentucky river town, old jack beechum, a retired farmer, sees his life again through the shades of one burnished day in september 1952. The story tells of the most searing moments of old jack s life, particularly his debt to his sister nancy and her husband ben feltner, old jack s model of what an honorable. Even though berry was only 39 years old at the time that he published the memory of old jack in 1974, the author does a remarkable job depicting the challenges and opportunities of advanced age. The memory of old jack book san mateo county libraries. Without spoiling the book, the memory of old jack takes place in a small farming community at the tail end of the 1800s. Berry s novel, the memory of old jack, is about belonging to a specific place, over generations, being part of the place, part of its history. The memory of old jack by wendell berry, paperback. First published in 1974, the memory of old jack recounts the last days in the life of 92year old farmer jack beechum in the fall of 1952, as the selfsufficient man of the soil contemplates both. Old jack, born just after the american civil war and dying in contemporary times, spends one beautiful september day in port william, his home since birth, remembering. The memory of old jack by wendell berry paperback book, 176 pages see other available editions description in a rural kentucky river town, old jack beechum, a retired farmer, sees his life again through the sades of one burnished day in september 1952.
Berrys selfportrait, this description of andy catlett as he assimilates old jack s history, absorbing through the. Wendell erdman berry born august 5, 1934 is an american novelist, poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, and farmer. The memory of old jack completely kentucky wiki fandom. This is the second book in berrys fiction series that is based in the imagined farming community of port william. Wendell berry in a small town in kentucky, 92year old jack beechum, a farmer, moves slowly through his last day of life. Editions of the memory of old jack by wendell berry. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 170 pages and is available in paperback format. The memory of old jack takes place on a single day in 1952, when jack beechum, then 92 years old, replays his life like a movie in his head. And there has come to be a part of his mind that is spacious and old wendell berry, the memory of old jack 1974 it could easily be mr. He lives with his wife, tanya berry, on their farm in henry county, kentucky.
The memory of old jack book central arkansas library. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. He is an elected member of the fellowship of southern writers, a recipient of the national humanities medal, and the jefferson lecturer for 2012. The first edition of the novel was published in february 1st 1974, and was written by wendell berry. He was recently awarded the cleanth brooks medal for lifetime achievement by the fellowship of southern writers and the louis bromfield society award. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the memory of old jack. The memory of old jack oregon digital library consortium. The memory of old jack by wendell berry is one work of fiction of many set in the same town with recurring characters. His novels and stories are consistently fine, but the memory of old jack is just flat out the best berry that ive read i still have a few of his books to go. Wendell berry is the author of fifty books of poetry, fiction, and essays. I find myself regularly coming back to thoughts of old jack and when i do, i see that his losses are my losses.
The memory of old jack tulsa citycounty library overdrive. The memory of old jack ebook written by wendell berry. The memory of old jack book king county library system. The memory of old jack book by wendell berry 5 available. Bringing the earthiness of americas past to mind,the memory of old jack conveys the truth and.
Bringing the earthiness of americas past to mind, the memory of old jack conveys truth and integrity of the land and the people who live from it. Like him, we deal with some better than others, but in the end, if we can pass away in peace with ourselves and the world. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Bringing the earthiness of americas past to mind, the memory of old jack conveys the truth and integrity of the land and the people who live from it. Pdf the memory of old jack book by wendell berry free. In 2010, he was awarded the national humanities medal by president barack obama.
Like old jack, each of us confronts our own dragons throughout our lives. Day dreaming in his rockingchair, he recalls his love for his wife and long days working. It has been one of those works of fiction that will not allow me to shake it off. It is to berrys credit that its flaws are noticeable largely in comparison to his masterful later novels. The memory of old jack, one of wendell berrys early novels, is a mostly excellent book. Add to cart buy now add to wishlist remove from wishlist. The memory of old jack port william kindle edition by.
The memory of old jack has all the virtues of berrys other work wise, deeply felt, environmentally and ethically challenging, but it has a level of emotional and sexual intensity. Through the eyes of one man can be seen the values. Bringing the earthiness of americas past to mind, the memory of old jack conveys the truth and int. Bringing the earthiness of americas past to mind, the memory of old jack conveys the truth and integrity of the land and the people who live it.
Wendell berry is an american writer of essays, fiction and poetry. The memory of old jack port william kindle edition by berry, wendell. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the memory of old jack port william. The memory of old jack unabridged audiobook download. The memory of old jack is a slab of rich americana. Past and present mingle rather too coherently in old jack s mind during his last day on earth. Find the memory of old jack by berry, wendell at biblio. The memory of old jack is a novel written by wendell berry. Jack spends a day in port william, his home since birth, reflecting on his life, from the time he was a young boy born in the wake of the civil war through an unhappy marriage to his final days as an old man who has been left behind by a society that has reinvented its values.
The first one i read by berry was the very satisfying book titled, jayber crow. In a rural kentucky river town, old jack beechum, a retired farmer, sees his life again through the shades of one burnished day in september 1952. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. In a rural kentucky river town, old jack beechum, a retired farmer, sees his life again through the sades of one burnished day in september 1952. The story tells of the most searing moments of old jack s life, particularly his debt to his sister nancy and her husband ben feltner, old jack s model of what an honorable manhood and strength might be.