John Fox Jr Appalachian Author

John Fox, Jr., was one of the first writers to use the mountains of southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky as a backdrop for his stories and novels about a people whose culture faced extinction. Writing was not a profession he chose quickly or painlessly--he was well into middle age when he made the decision and he struggled with his choice for a long time after--but he made quite a name for himself through his work. This work is a biography of Fox. It draws from personal and family correspondence and covers his entire life, from his birth in Stony Point, Kentucky, in 1862, to his death from pneumonia in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, in 1919. His early life and education at his father's school, his two years at Transylvania University in Lexington, his transfer to Harvard and graduation in 1883, his work for the New York Sun and Times and smaller newspapers, and return home in the mid-1880s to work with his half-brother in the coal mines are all documented. It was also around this time that he began his first novel, A Mountain Europa, and over the next thirty years he wrote dozens of short stories and nine novels from the family home in Big Stone Gap, including Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (his first to gain the status of bestseller) and The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine is a 1908 romance novel/western novel written by John Fox, Jr. Set in the Appalachian Mountains at the turn of the twentieth century, a feud has been boiling for over thirty years between two influential mountain families, the Tollivers and the Falins. The character of Devil Judd Tolliver in the novel was based on the real-life of "Devil John" Wesley Wright, a United States Marshal for the region in and around Wise County, Virginia, and Letcher County, Kentucky.

"Christmas Eve on Lonesome and Other Stories" is a collection of short stories written by John Fox Jr., an American author known for his regional fiction set in the Appalachian region of the United States. The book was first published in 1904 and is celebrated for its vivid portrayal of the people, landscapes, and culture of the Appalachian Mountains. The collection includes a series of stories that capture the essence of life in the rural and often isolated communities of Appalachia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These stories are characterized by their rustic charm and strong sense of place. Some key elements of the book are: Regional Setting: The stories in this collection are primarily set in the Appalachian Mountains, specifically in Kentucky and Virginia. John Fox Jr. was known for his commitment to portraying the unique culture and hardships of the people living in this region. Character Studies: The characters in these stories are drawn from the lives of mountain people. Fox's writing is known for its character-driven narratives, and the book features a diverse cast of individuals, from resilient pioneers to colorful mountain folk. Themes of Isolation and Hardship: Many of the stories in the collection touch on themes of isolation and the challenges faced by individuals and communities living in remote mountain areas. The harsh realities of life, as well as the strength and resilience of the characters, are recurring themes. Cultural Traditions: Fox's writing captures the traditions, dialect, and way of life of the people in the region, providing readers with a glimpse into the cultural tapestry of Appalachia. Emotional Impact: The stories often evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and longing, as well as the power of human connection and the enduring spirit of those who call these mountains home. "Christmas Eve on Lonesome and Other Stories" is a testament to John Fox Jr.'s skill in capturing the authentic atmosphere and distinctive characters of the Appalachian region. His writing is known for its ability to transport readers to this unique cultural landscape and offer a deeper understanding of the challenges and joys experienced by the people who live there. The stories in this collection are rich in detail and emotion, making it a classic work in American regional literature.

" This powerful novel is one of the most perceptive tellings of the Civil War experience.

The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come' is a coming-of-age novel by John Fox Jr. It is set during the Kentucky Civil War, and tells the rags-to-respectability tale of orphan Chad Buford. It was the first novel to sell a million copies in the US.

The Heart of the Hills' is a short dramatic story written by John Fox Jr. The story is a fictionalized version of a real-life feud during the late 19th century between two rural American families of the West Virginia, Hatfield and McCoy, which in this book are renamed Hawn and Honeycutt.

A Knight of Cumberland' is a Western-themed dramatic novel written by John Fox Jr, best-remembered today for being a New York Times bestselling author. Set at an area called the Cumberland Gap, the book tells the stories of the varied characters who lived there.

This 1904 book evokes the sights, smells, and tastes of Kentucky in the 1900s. Most importantly, the book was groundbreaking, over one hundred years ago, in its celebration of the vital role Black women played in building and sustaining the tradition of Southern cooking and Southern hospitality.