South of the Northeast Kingdom [Hardcover]

David Mamet (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

Compared to some of its New England neighbors, Vermont has seemed to long-time resident David Mamet a place of intrinsic energy and progressiveness, love and commonality. It has lived up to the old story that settlers came up the Connecticut River and turned right to get to New Hampshire and left to get to Vermont. Is Vermont's tradition of live and let live an accident of geography, the happy by-product of 200 years of national neglect, an emanation of its Scots-Irish regional character? Exploring the ways in which his decades in Vermont have shaped his character and his work, Mamet examines each of these strands and how the state's free-thinking tradition can survive in an age of increasing conglomeration. The result is a highly personal and compelling portrait of a truly unique place.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this stimulating collection of essays, the author reflects on his corner of Vermont, the state he's called home for most of his adult life. Told in a digressive style that recalls languid conversation by an embering stove, the narratives begin with personal anecdotes, or stories of neighbors, then enter the world at large to find relevance to issues of the day: the attacks of September 11, the failure of Enron. Whether musing on the superiority of learning practical skills to abstract education or the honesty demanded by a show of hands at a town meeting versus the anonymity allowed by the Australian ballot, Mamet continues to offer economically sound reading, getting twice the mileage out of half the fuel. But despite generally rigorous thought and a lack of self-delusion (he admits, for example, he may be an interloper in the community he idealizes), it feels a bit romantically rustic that he should always find all is best in his small village. The rural lifestyle, after all, is not available to all, nor is character totally wanting in cities. Keir Graff
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

David Mamet was born in Chicago in 1947. He has taught at Yale Drama School, New York University, and Goddard College. His plays include American Buffalo and Speed-the-Plow. His awards include a Pulitzer Prize, two Obies, two New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, and a Tony. He lives in Vermont. 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; 1st edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792269608
• ISBN-13: 978-0792269601
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,731,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poetic meditations on a region and a way of life..., January 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: South of the Northeast Kingdom (Hardcover)

I live just north of Mamet's hometown of Cabot, Vermont, and know many of the places and some of the people in the book (I've never met Mamet himself). For most of us who live in or close to the Northeast Kingdom, it is a beautiful, but gritty place to make a go of it. There is much to exult about and much to damn. Mamet's take is mostly dead on. While some of the book romanticizes life here, other passages criticize both himself (directly) and others (obliquely). I found myself agreeing with much of his analysis and many of his honest portrayals. Those inhabiting the right fringe of the political spectrum might find some of Mamet's opinions distasteful, but they have it coming.
Although the word "vide" was used too often, I like a book that stretches one's vocabulary. Keep a dictionary close by if you buy this book. I also like a book whose whole is greater than the sum of the parts and that reads, at times, like poetry. The evocative black and white photos help capture this unique vision of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. I look forward to rereading this book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Part of a Very Good Series, January 27, 2003

By 

Pragmatist (Minneapolis, Mn USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: South of the Northeast Kingdom (Hardcover)

I spent several years in Vermont and still go back as often as I can. Mamet captures much of the simple magic about the state and its people. The chapters are disconnected fragments, but that is fine. The impressions combine to give a good picture of life in this curiously unspoiled place.
I have read 3 volumes in this National Geographic Discoveries series and have just ordered 3 more. They are short, insightful and written by some of the best writers out there. The whole series is worth a careful look. If they sold them on subscription, I would sign up. Someone good is doing the commisioning here.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Fast Read, and Even Better to Share in Bed, February 27, 2006

By 

SheilaB "SheilaB" (N Mass, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: South of the Northeast Kingdom (Hardcover)

A friend who lives near Cabot just sent me a copy of this and it is divine! I couldn't resist reading it to my husband in bed since we're both from Central Vermont although now transplanted to Massachusetts where there are a few more jobs. We finished it in one weekend night and were disappointed it was over so soon (not my husband's typical reaction to a book I like, trust me).

I've read some of Mamet's other books (of course, I've seen more than a couple of his movies, too) and this is my favorite, by far. He writes well as you would expect.