The Hills Remember

"This collection of all the short stories of James Still, in chronological order, reveal the development of his craft during Still's years of keen observation of the character, values, and sly humor of his eastern Kentucky neighbors, as well as his accurate ear for their dialect, not presenting it exactly, but weaving it into a rare art form, and with his insight to render a vivid portrait and intonation of the people of this particular place, mainly during the years of the Great Depression. These stories affirm Still's art as a master story teller."—Loyal Jones, former director of the Appalachian Center at Berea College and author of Appalachian Values

"James Still chopped a path through the literary landscape that Appalachian writers continue to follow. He gave the land and culture a vivid life on the page, using language of such quality that it set a standard for all the writers from the hills. Mr. Still is more than the master. He is our grandfather, our great-grandfather, our godfather—the revered elder of the tribe of Appalachian writers. Here is a sentence he wrote: 'We went on, not stopping or speaking until we saw our hill standing apart from all the others.' These words readily describe James Still's work. If each published book is viewed as a hill in the geography of literature, his stories will forever stand apart from all the others."—Chris Offutt, author of The Killing Hills

"In his stories drawn from local life and speech in the Kentucky mountains, James Still finds timeless beauty and universal meaning."—Gurney Norman

"In a long-ago conversation James Still said to me, 'You must read Daudet—he can pierce your heart in a single line.' I nodded, thinking I could name another writer who had such skill, remembering the haunting lilt and ache of his poems and how each chapter of River of Earth left me breathless, struck by the power of simple lines that went straight to the heart without a trace of sentimentality. Later, when Still read 'The Nest' to one of my writing classes at Carson-Newman College, I had the profound pleasure of watching the mesmerizing effect of his words transform that class into a community of listeners united by a shared, unforgettable experience. And that's what this collection of James Still's stories can do for a new generation of readers—lead them into an awareness of the range and depth of human experience through an artistry of language. This collection reaffirms what so many of us have known for years—James Still is a master of the short story, his work a national treasure."—Jeff Daniel Marion, author of Letters to the Dead: A Memoir

"While the reason behind creating a complete anthology of James Still's short stories might be to forever cement his reputation as the grand old man of Appalachian literature, I hope The Hills Remember reaches farther . . .hopefully people will discover that James Still is a great Appalachian writer, a great Southern writer, and most importantly, a great American writer."—BiblioBuffet

"A must read for anyone who is 'from here' or that has embraced the Appalachian mountain region as their own. We will learn more about ourselves than we knew and will be the better for having done so."—Smoky Mountain News

"Still's stories are among the best written by an American author. They are powerful, compact, and enriched by striking resonant language."—Ashland Daily Independent

"In his distinctive style—simple, compact and powerful—Still relays the rich textures of the fabric of Appalachian life."—Chevy Chaser

"Still has a gift for choosing the right word or phrase to convey the isolation and alienation of generations of eastern Kentucky folk."—Bowling Green Daily News

"The Hills Remember honors the late writer with the first comprehensive collection of his short fiction."—Floyd County Times

"Indeed, Olson's collection of Still's work is complete, but it is so much more than that—it is a tribute to one of Kentucky's finest writing minds, and in particular a showcase for how the 'Dean of Appalachian Literature' arrived at a level to which so many aspire."—H-Net Kentucky

"The hills do remember James Still, and so should readers everywhere."—Appalachian Journal

"In this landmark book, Ted Olson favorably compares Still's short fiction to the work of Poe, Hawthorne, Hemingway, Welty, and Cheever. Presenting all of Still's compelling and varied short stories in one volume, The Hills Remember is a testament to a master writer. This book is required reading for anyone who is 'from here' or who has embraced the Appalachian mountain regions."—Now & Then

"With The Hills Remember, his voice will continue to resonate as clea and as pure as a dipperful of cold mountain water on a hot day."—The Knoxville News-Sentinel

"Still's style and narrative quality should warrant him a place among the great Southern storytellers."—Georgia Library Quarterly