Author
Mathew Joseph Holt
Born 1866
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Books by Mathew Joseph Holt
Chit-Chat; Nirvana; The Searchlight
"Chit-Chat; Nirvana; The Searchlight" by Mathew Joseph Holt is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around John Cornwall, a young lawyer who navigates life and relationships as he embarks on a career in Harlan, Kentucky, amidst the backdrop of coal mining and rural life. The story delves into themes of ambition, community, and the contrast between city and mountain living through Cornwall’s interactions with various characters, including the Saylor family and Mary, a mountain girl. At the start of the novel, we meet John Cornwall, who is introduced through a stream of light-hearted observations about life and the characters within it. The opening chapter details his modest upbringing and aspirations as he moves to Harlan for work with the Pittsburgh Coal & Coke Company. Cornwall's journey takes him to the Saylor family, where he is drawn to Mary, a mountain girl with aspirations of her own. Cornwall’s arrival in Harlan sets the stage for various interactions and developments, illuminating the cultural contrasts between the young lawyer's city background and the traditions of the mountain community he encounters. The atmosphere is characterized by a playful yet poignant exploration of hope, ambition, and the human experience within the socio-economic landscape of the time.
Voices; Birth-Marks; The Man and the Elephant
"Voices; Birth-Marks; The Man and the Elephant" by Mathew Joseph Holt is a work of fiction written in the early 20th century. The narrative captures the lives of individuals in a Kentucky valley, focusing on themes of childhood innocence and the profound connections between people and nature. Central characters include young Jeanne, who creates a dollhouse out of natural materials, and John Morgan Allen, who becomes intertwined with the Litman family and their struggles. The opening of the narrative introduces us to the serene beauty of Big Creek Valley, where the natural world is personified through the voices of its creatures and seasons. We meet Jeanne, a imaginative girl playing with her bone and stick dolls, and John, a law graduate, who stumbles upon her makeshift dollhouse. The story unfolds through their interactions, revealing their dreams and hardships against the backdrop of their mountain home, where themes of love, family, and the yearning for a connection to both the land and each other come alive. As John becomes a seasonal figure in Jeanne's life, the stage is set for a poignant exploration of relationships and the complexities of growing up.