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Gurney Norman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gurney Norman
Born1937 (age 86–87)
Grundy, Virginia,U.S.
Occupation
  • Writer
  • documentarian
  • professor
Alma materStuart Robinson School
University of Kentucky
Stanford University

Gurney Norman(born 1937) is an American writerdocumentarian,and professor.

Gurney Norman speaking at University of Kentucky event

Biography

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Gurney Norman was born inGrundy, Virginia,in 1937. He grew up in the southernAppalachian Mountainsand was raised alternately by his maternal grandparents inSouthwest Virginiaand his paternal grandparents inEastern Kentuckyin several towns, but primarily in the small community of Allais, nearHazard,inPerry County.[1]He attendedStuart Robinson School[2]inLetcher County, Kentucky,from 1946 to 1955. Norman attended theUniversity of Kentuckyfrom 1955 to 1959, graduating with a degree in journalism and English.[1]In 1960, he received a Wallace Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing atStanford Universitywhere he studied with literary criticMalcolm Cowleyand the Irish short story writerFrank O'Connor.[3]

After Stanford, Norman spent two years in theU.S. Army.He returned to easternKentuckyin 1963 to work as a reporter for his hometown newspaper,The Hazard Herald.Leaving newspaper work to concentrate on his fiction writing, Norman took a job with theU.S. Forest Serviceas a fire lookout in theCascade MountainsofOregonin the summers of 1966 and 1967.[4]In 1971, his novelDivine Right's Tripwas published inThe Last Whole Earth Catalogand subsequently by the Dial Press and Bantam Books.[5]Norman was one of the founders of the Briarpatch Network in 1974, with Richard Raymond andMichael Phillips.[6]In 1977, his book of short storiesKinfolks,which receivedBerea College's Weatherford Award, was published by Gnomon Press.[7]

In 1979, Norman joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky as an associate professor of English. He served as Director of the English Department's Creative Writing Program from 2000 to 2014.[8]In 1996 his work as a fiction writer, filmmaker, and cultural advocate was honored at the Fifteenth AnnualEmory and Henry CollegeLiterary Festival, which celebrates significant writers in theAppalachianregion.[9]In 2002 he was honored by the Eastern Kentucky Leadership Conference for outstanding contribution to the advancement of regional arts and culture.[10]In 2007 theAppalachian Studies Associationawarded Norman the Helen M. Lewis Community Service Award, which recognizes exemplary contributions to Appalachia through involvement with and service to its people and communities.[11]He serves as Senior Writer-in-Residence atHindman Settlement School's annual Appalachian Writers Workshop.[12]Norman was selected to serve as the 2009–2010Poet Laureatefor the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and was officially installed as Laureate on April 24, 2009.[13]On May 8, 2011, Norman was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Berea College.[14]On February 13, 2019, he was inducted into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame, which recognizes distinguished Kentucky writers whose work reflects the state's rich literary heritage.[15][16][17][18]He lives inLe xing ton, Kentucky.

Writing

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Divine Right's Tripfollows DR Davenport and Estelle, a pair ofhippiestoners who leave California for eastern Kentucky, where they settle on a farm raising rabbits. The novel was originally serialized inThe Last Whole Earth Catalog.

Kinfolksis a book of short stories concerning young Wilgus Collier and his relationships with his family members.[19]

Ancient Creekis a satirical folktale about a rebellion by mountain people against an absurd and oppressive king in a mythical American region.[20]

Filmography

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As writer and presenter

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  • 1987 -Time on the River- A historical look at the important role theKentucky Riverplayed in the settlement of the state.KETproduction.[21]
  • 1989 -From This Valley- Explores the Big Sandy region of Eastern Kentucky, including its trails, people, history, and literary heritage. KET production.[22]
  • 1991 -Wilderness Road- Retraces the route of the famous pioneer trail fromKingsport, Tennessee,toBoonesborough, Kentucky.KET production.[23]

Based on Norman's work

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  • 2000 -The Wilgus Stories- Dramatization of three Norman short stories-- "Fat Monroe," "Night Ride" and "Maxine" —by filmmaker Andrew Garrison.[24]

Publications

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Fiction

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  • Book One From Crazy Quilt: A Novel in Progress(Monterey, KY:Larkspur Press), 1990.
  • Divine Right's Trip: A Folk-Tale(New York:Dial Press), 1972.ISBN0-917788-42-7
  • Kinfolks: The Wilgus Stories(Frankfort, KY: Gnomon Press), 1977.ISBN0-917788-07-9
  • Ancient Creek: A Folktale(Le xing ton, KY: Old Cove Press), 2012.ISBN0-967542-42-1

Nonfiction

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  • An American Vein: Critical Readings in Appalachian Literaturewith Danny Miller and Sharon Hatfield (Athens, OH: Ohio University Press), 2005.ISBN0-8214-1589-1
  • Confronting Appalachian Stereotypes: Back Talk from an American Regionwith Dwight B. Billings and Katherine Ledford (Le xing ton, KY: University Press of Kentucky), 1999.ISBN0-8131-2099-3

References

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  1. ^abElliott, Allison (March 14, 2009)."Gurney Norman Named Kentucky Poet Laureate".University of Kentucky. Archived fromthe originalon February 20, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  2. ^"Stuart Robinson School Collection | Special Collections: Hutchins Library - Berea College".Berea.edu.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  3. ^"Gurney Norman | Appalachian Heritage - Berea College".Community.berea.edu. July 22, 1937.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  4. ^Mendes, Guy (November 28, 2001)."Living by Words – Gurney Norman Interview".Kentucky Educational Television.Archived fromthe originalon January 18, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  5. ^Jones, Malcolm (March 18, 2007)."Baby Boomers and Books: A Love Affair With Literature".Newsweek.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  6. ^Claude Whitmyer (January 1, 2007)."History of The Briarpatch Network aka The Briarpatch Society aka The Briarpatch".Briarpatch.net.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  7. ^"Past Winners | Appalachian Center: Weatherford Award - Berea College".Berea.edu. Archived fromthe originalon February 6, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  8. ^Courier, The (March 16, 2009)."Local News | The Courier-Journal".courier-journal.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  9. ^"The Wilgus Stories: The Author – Gurney Norman".Independent Television Service.Archived fromthe originalon March 7, 2009.
  10. ^"Eastern Kentucky Leadership Awards – 2002 recipients".Archived fromthe originalon July 26, 2011.
  11. ^"Past Award Winners:: ASA::".Appalachianstudies.org.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  12. ^"Gurney Norman New Kentucky Poet Laureate | Hindman Settlement School".Hindmansettlement.org. April 24, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  13. ^"Kentucky.gov: Kentucky Arts Council Home Page".Artscouncil.ky.gov. January 31, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  14. ^Buckner, Jay (May 8, 2011)."Appalachian author Gurney Norman tells Berea College graduates to find wisdom in unexpected places".Bcnow.berea.edu.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  15. ^"Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame Inductees 2019".carnegiecenterlex.org.RetrievedFebruary 23,2019.
  16. ^Piercy, Lindsey (January 30, 2019)."Norman, McClanahan, Vance Join Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame".uknow.uky.edu.RetrievedFebruary 23,2019.
  17. ^Eblen, Tom (December 11, 2018)."They wrote from heart of California counterculture. Now they'll join Kentucky hall of fame".kentucky.RetrievedFebruary 23,2019.
  18. ^"Ed McClanahan and Gurney Norman Make the Kentucky Hall of Fame".aceweekly. February 11, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 23,2019.
  19. ^webeditor."April 2000 bookclub@ket".Ket.org.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  20. ^"Ancient Creek".Old Cove Press.RetrievedSeptember 4,2017.
  21. ^"Time on the River".KET.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  22. ^"From This Valley".KET.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  23. ^"Wilderness Road".KET.RetrievedFebruary 10,2012.
  24. ^"The Wilgus Stories".itvs.org.RetrievedFebruary 23,2019.

Further reading

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