Author: Wendell Berry
Publisher: Pantheon (1992)
208 pages
Genre: Fiction, Short Stories
This is a collection of five short stories about members of the pillar families of Port William, Kentucky. Wendell Berry's writing style creates an evocative picture of life in rural Kentucky. A strong sense of family, community and love of the land comes through in each story. This was my introduction to Wendell Berry and it left me wanting to read more of his writing.
This collection includes the following stories:
Pray Without Ceasing: Andy Catlett remembers his grandparents and the story of what happened to his great-grandfather.
A Jonquil for Mary Penn: Mary Penn has a fever, but doesn't mention it to her husband. She continues on with her daily work, remembering what a good man her husband is.
Making it Home: Arthur Rowanberry returns home after the war.
Fidelity: Burley Coulter is ill and dying. His family comes together to give him the peace he would want in his last days.
Are You All Right?: Elton and Andy are worried about the Rowanberrys who live on the other side of the flooded river.
I loved the sense of belonging portrayed in these stories. If I had to pick a favorite, I think it would be "A Jonquil for Mary Penn". It was a sweet story of a husband and wife's love for one another. Fidelity also stood out as a favorite. It was amazing how the family pulled together without having to discuss anything.
If you love beautiful writing, stories about strong family connections and the beauty of the land I would recommend Wendell Berry's Fidelity: Five Stories. It was a great introduction to his writing for me and I look forward to reading more in the future.
I read this for the "Collection of short stories" category in The Literary Life Podcast 20 for 2020 reading challenge.
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