Alex Stewart was a recipient of a National Heritage Fellowship Award in 1983 by the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington which recognized him as a living national treasure. Over a twenty year period of friendship the author developed a profound respect and great love for Alex Stewart, a truly remarkable Tennessee mountain character whose life epitomizes the pioneer development in America. The best of hundreds of hours of recorded conversations with Stewart are compiled into a moving portrait of this cooper, father of 13, farmer, logger, railroad man, and do-it-yourself interpreter of his rugged homeland. Because the ways Stewart tells his own stories are as important as the stories themselves, he is allowed to do most of the "talking" throughout the book. Through his own account of the people around him, Alex describes his rural life in the late 19th and 20th centuries through stories such as when he was bit by a rabid dog, when neighbor children begged for food, or how people gathered honey, made marbles, moonshine or furniture. Throughout his 94 years, Alex, who died in 1985, depended upon his own good sense to direct him and it led him through a rich and fascinating life. This book is a genuine labor of love.
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About the Author
Author John Rice Irwin is founder and director of the Museum of Appalachia in the nationally acclaimed farm-village settlement of Norris, Tennessee. His main interest lies in the colorful people of these Southern Appalachian Mountains; their history, culture and pioneer-frontier lifestyle. To him, Alex Stewart portrays the best of the lot.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alex Stewart, Portrait of a Pioneer,
By Richard (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer (Paperback)
The question/answer format of this book captures the feelings and emotions emitted by Alex Stewart. As each chapter unfolded, I gained additional insight into the "tough" life of a Appalachian family in the early 1900s. The number of skills possessed by Alex Stewart is remarkable. I agree with the author; when Alex Stewart died, an entire library of information went to the grave with him. I've ordered a copy for my 82 year old mother. She will be thrilled to read about making "lye soap", curing meat, and the many other skills discussed.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Astounding Man!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer (Paperback)
This is an amazing tale about an amazing man. For anyone who grew up in the Appalachian Mountain region, or who has an interest in the region, this book is an absolute must read. The television and print media have gone out of their way to play up the "stupid hillbilliy" vision of these people. Alex Stewart puts that to rest, and then some. I was amazed at the many skills Alex possessed and I was deeply touched by the depth of the relationship between Alex and the author. People like Alex Stewart are disappearing rapidly, soon not to be seen again. We would all do well to learn about them and learn from them.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
fascinating read for the "modern" mind,
By "bluereef_auctions" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Alex Stewart: Portrait of a Pioneer (Paperback)
I bought this book at the Museum of Appalachia (also founded by the author) on my first visit to Tennessee. The book is almost entirely a transcript of a dialogue/interview between the author and Alex Stewart. At first, I thought this would be a strange format, but as I read on, I discovered that this would be the only way to authentically capture the mind and spirit of Alex on paper. If you're not from the South, you might find Alex's dialect charminging unusual. A few times I had to read a passage over and over again to fully understand what words Alex was saying. Here is an example where it took me a while to realize that Alex meant "Lord" when kept saying "Law": "They didn't have no men folks, but they had several children. Making liquor was the only way they had of making a living. Law, they had it hard." The author cleverly asks questions to get Alex to reveal his pioneer wisdom. More than that, though, the author's selections and chapter arrangements helped to organize the sprawling encyclopedia of Alex's mind. By the time I reached the end, I was sad to have the "conversation" over. I felt I had known Alex a bit personally, and I mourned at his passing. It was joyous reading while it lasted and my heart ached to know more of Alex. This is a fabulous book I can't recommend enough. 10 STARS.
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