HIE TO THE HUNTERS

by Jesse Stuart ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 1950

Once again Jesse Stuart establishes his right to be spokesman for his own native Kentucky mountain men -- and once again he paints them in warm, likable colors, with their crudities, merely surface overlay for their sterling worth. Call it sentimentalizing if you will, he gives it a ring of authenticity. This is a tale of a rescue, as Sparkie, an overgrown, tobacco spitting sixteen year old boy from the hills uses his own eccentric method of fighting to save a fourteen year old city softie, ""Did"", and from two bullies, and persuades the Lad to run away with him to the hills, so he can make a man of him. Just how hill justice and hill psychology operate to protect Did from his frantic father's determination to get him back -- how Did accepts the toughening process not only with good grace but with eager liking, makes an original if not wholly convincing yarn. Through his eyes, the reader glimpses a life comprised of possibly one third hard work as tobacco raisers, but a surely two thirds life-o-Riley, with possum hunting, for hunting, running with the dogs (the dogs have almost more personality than the people), setting traps to go home, until, at the end, that part of his life tied up with ""book larnin'"" lays claim, and-his father having proved his manhood in fighting fire in a mountain feud -- accepts parental claims while putting the seal of friendship on his new ""family"". There is less of humor here than in Stuart's memorable Taps for Private Tussie, but the market is chiefly that market rather than -- or perhaps in addition to- his audience for A Thread That Runs So True.

Pub Date: May 1, 1950

ISBN: 0945084595

Page Count: -

Publisher: Whittlesey

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1950

Categories: FICTION