Subject
Great Smoky Mountains (N.C. and Tenn.) -- Fiction Books
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Charles Egbert Craddock
The story of Keedon Bluffs
"The story of Keedon Bluffs" by Charles Egbert Craddock is a novel written in the late 19th century. Set in the Great Smoky Mountains, it explores mountain life shaped by Civil War aftershocks, local lore, and a looming mystery tied to the towering Keedon Bluffs. The story centers on young Ike Guyther, his blind artilleryman uncle Abner, the dubious drifter Jerry Binwell, and Jerry’s captivating little daughter Rosamond, as suspicion and old grievances collide with whispers of hidden treasure and haunted caves. The opening of the novel paints the bluffs and river in vivid detail, introduces the found cannonball, and sketches Ike’s restless courage alongside Abner’s proud, wounded stoicism. A stranger with an ox-cart—Jerry—arrives with his irresistible child, Rosamond, spinning eerie “witch” warnings about the cliff hollows that Ike suspects are meant to scare him off. When a storm forces Jerry into Ike’s home, Abner recognizes him and angrily accuses him of wartime treachery, but the family’s hospitality—and Rosamond’s charm—prevail for the night. As Rosamond wins every heart, Jerry recounts his hard luck, while privately showing a mocking edge. In town, gossip swirls: an old-timer suggests Abner wants to reach the cliff cavities not for a cannonball but for Squire Torbett’s rumored hidden money that Ab and Jerry once helped conceal. Community disapproval hardens around Jerry, who tries to regain face by showing off his agility at the store, even as taunts about desertion dog him.
Charles Egbert Craddock
The windfall : $b a novel
"The Windfall" by Charles Egbert Craddock is a novel written in the early 20th century. This work explores themes of aspiration and the clash between urban and rural life through the eyes of the central character, Hilary Lloyd, a showman who embarks on a journey to run a street fair in the remote town of Colbury located amidst the grandeur of the Great Smoky Mountains. As he struggles to generate interest in his fair, the narrative hints at the complex dynamics between the characters, particularly between Lloyd and the townsfolk, who view his enterprise with skepticism. At the start of the story, Hilary Lloyd arrives in Colbury, facing the daunting challenge of promoting his street fair in an isolated, indifferent town. He is accompanied by his partner Haxon, who is disheartened by the lack of enthusiasm from the local populace and the overwhelming beauty of the surrounding mountains, which contrasts starkly with their dire situation. As the fair preparations unfold amidst physical labor and local commentary, Lloyd's hope battles his sense of impending failure. During a moment of solitude, he encounters Clotilda Pinnott, a local girl, and is captivated by her grace, further complicating his feelings as he grapples with the impending storm—both literally and metaphorically—as he promotes the attractions of his fair while assessing his uncertain place within this rural community.
Charles Egbert Craddock
The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains
"The Prophet of the Great Smoky Mountains" by Charles Egbert Craddock is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story appears to center on the lives of its characters set against the rugged backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains, combining themes of love, morality, and the challenges posed by nature and law. The opening portion introduces us to Dorinda Cayce, a young woman working in the fields, and her interaction with Rick Tyler, a troubled young man hunted by the law, setting the stage for their complex relationship. The opening of the novel describes the beautiful yet harsh environment of the Great Smokies and the daily lives of its inhabitants, particularly Dorinda Cayce, who finds herself socially and emotionally entangled with Rick Tyler, a fugitive carrying the weight of past choices and accusations. Their dialogue reveals a growing tension between their personal aspirations and the oppressive hand of justice as Rick faces persecution for a murder he did not commit. With the sheriff and his posse lurking nearby, the sense of danger escalates, and Dorinda grapples with her feelings for Rick while navigating societal expectations, setting the tone for the unfolding drama that will explore themes of love, sacrifice, and autonomy amidst the challenges of their frontier life.
Christian Reid
"The land of the sky" : $b or, Adventures in mountain by-ways
"The Land of the Sky; or, Adventures in Mountain By-Ways" by Christian Reid is a travel narrative written in the late 19th century. It follows a lively party—an observant female narrator, her spirited sister Sylvia, their formidable Aunt Markham, and companions Eric, Charley, and Rupert—on a summer ramble across the Blue Ridge into Western North Carolina. Expect exuberant nature writing, local color, and light romantic and social comedy woven through stagecoach jolts, mountain climbs, and spa-town encounters in and around Asheville. At the start of the narrative, the family debates how to reach the mountains, finally sending their carriage and horses one way while they take the railroad to Old Fort and a stage over Swannanoa Gap with famed driver John Pence. After a brace breaks and a tunnel-side pause, they ascend through streams, laurel, and precipices to a glorious summit view, then descend by moonlight along the Swannanoa to arrive in Asheville. The next day brings bright surveys of the hilltop town, a chance meeting with the charming Creole siblings Adèle and Victor Dupont, a detour to the French Broad and Deaver’s Springs for sulphur water, and a sunset-and-moonrise rapture atop Beaucatcher, followed by Victor’s music at the hotel. At dawn Sylvia and Victor ride back to Beaucatcher to witness a sea of mist at sunrise, then explore the Swannanoa valley; later, fording the river on an afternoon ride, they encounter Ralph Lanier—an ardent acquaintance—hinting that romantic entanglements will accompany the scenic touring.
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