Publishers Weekly,Some 23 million people live in Appalachia, a region covering 200,000 square miles through 13 states. Congress declared 2002-2003 the "Year of Appalachia," highlighted by the Folklore Festival, a two-week celebration on the Washington, D.C., Mall attended by 1.1 million visitors. This anthology is the companion to a two-part PBS documentary (currently scheduled for air in September). Over 30 contributors cover all aspects of Appalachian life and culture, from "living-water baptism," coal mining, feuds, folktales, Foxfire, moonshiners, mountain music and snake handlers to the stately grandeur of North Carolina's Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, a 3,840-acre wilderness. Citing stereotypes and pop culture connections (Snuffy Smith, The Andy Griffith Show, The Waltons, Deliverance), Santelli (The Big Book of the Blues) sets the scene with an overview of the real Appalachia's origins, hardships and triumphs. Evans, the film's executive producer, writes that book and film provide "a multifaceted glimpse [of] the history of Appalachia: who came to the land, why they came, what they found, what they did, and why they stayed." Former Rolling Stone Press editor George-Warren presents a "Hillbilly Timeline" from 1900 to 2000. Many of the contributors, among them scholars, writers and naturalists, offer nostalgic childhood memories. Sidebar embellishments quotes, images, lyrics, poems and excerpts from 19th-century writing complement the text. Over 180 superb photos and illustrations include Archie L. Musick's scratch-board art, song sheets, engravings and R. Crumb drawings. 16 pages of color photos not seen by PW. (On sale Apr. 6) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
