Wendell Berry, Author, a Good Summer Read

 Wendell Berry  wrote Nathan Coulter in 1960 and started a series of books about people and their lives in Port William, Kentucky.   This fictional place of generations living with the land and the work and the people is a voice of quiet life, traditions and the continuing story of family and friends.

Berry was born in 1934 and his writing reflects the Depression, the War to end Wars (number 2) and life away from the city.  The theme is about people and relationships and generations.  He isolates all of this in the country to eliminate the noise of technology and progress.  The pace is slowed sufficiently in order to examine and reflect.

A pleasant summer read for the entire family or a book club.  The environment (the land/ home) is a character as well as a setting.  If you are a writer, it is a quiet study of language and descriptions.  Written in 1960 it is very much from the male perspective and there are few women voices.

Berry remains an activist.  He has written non- fiction as well and poetry.  He is politically active and been jailed because of his stand for issues.