Fair and Tender Ladies (U)

Ivy Rowe, Virginia mountain girl, then wife, mother, and finally "Mawmaw," never strays far from her home-but the letters she writes take her across the country and over the ocean. Writing "to hold onto what's passing," she tells stories that are rich with the life of Appalachia in words that are colloquial, often misspelled, but always beautiful. From childhood, when teachers encouraged her gift for language, to her rebellious teenage years when she swore against motherhood-only to then become a mother-and on through life, Ivy writes with insight, honesty, and a passion for living that is sure to be infectious. The acclaimed author of Oral History now relates the life and times of a unique Appalachian woman. Ivy Rowe tells the story of her life in the rustic beauty of the mountains through very touching yet humorous letters she writes to family and friends.