As an English major at the University of Alabama I was fortunate to be exposed to a number of fine instructors who brought out my fascination with all types of literature. Being a student at a Southern university, believe me BAMA was that as it was torched by union troops during the war, it was a given that I would be exposed to Southern Literature. BAMA is a Southern icon with it's greek revival building architecture, beautiful but snooty sorority coeds and classic football teams. Of coarse there was Faulkner, O'Conner and Welty. With their stories came countless class hours of intrigue and joy. Then there were the movements that were studied as well. In the summer of 1998 I had the priviledge of studying under Dwight Eddins. Eddins had received his post graduate training at Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee. Aside from being a gentleman and a scholar, Eddins's Vandy connection brought even more of a familiar attraction. Several close relatives of mine had attended this prestigious university. Being a hard working, but not as naturally gifted student as those family members, Vandy was never a real option for me. Also, with my father having a great salary but two boys in college together, it was understood that the public state university was the only true option for me. So making the best of this I took all the finest literature courses that Alabama was known for.
I will never forget our study that summer on a literary movement called Southern Agrarianism. Half asleep, probably from the road trip to Gulf Shores the night before, I was ready to assume my usual position at the back of the room, head down-eyes closed. Eddins begins to discuss Vanderbilt and his training there. He then discusses the literary agrarian movement and how he was specifically trained by some of the movement's fathers. Well, it's safe to say that I was awake with head up-eyes wide open.
I say all this to tell you why this movement is so important to the South. And why it is so important to Southern writers like myself. Briefly, it reminded the rest of America what writers from our region had to offer. It was a response to critics such as H.L. Mencken and those who thought that urbanism will and should change the face of literature. A face that looked itself in the mirror only to see liberalism, secularism, anti God-Country-Family. But these men took heart in the belief that each corner of America should be judged fairly, even if their part of America had not done so to those unfortunately maginalized. Simply put, the essence of this movement, contained an idea that life on the farm was still ideal. Dogwoods and Azaleas bloomin' in April on any Georgia country side was as magnificent as the canals of Venice. Fried chicken after church hymns was heaven on earth.
So with all this being said there was really only one choice in naming my pub "Modern Agrarian's Southern Writer's. Just as the Southern Agrarians, aka 12 Southernors, aka Vanderbilt Agrarians aka Fugitive Poets came before us; Faulkner, Welty and O'Conner came before them. Our work weaves together each on of us from past to present. As a "torch bearer" for agrarian style writers future tense, it is my honor to carry on the legacy of this movement any way I can. And make no mistake! No matter if your from Ohio, California or New Hampshire "agrarianism" has no bounderies. Her beauty is not regionalized, but is in the soul of those who love the simple things and praise their essence through writing, song, dance and theater. She kindly accepts all races and nationalities as well. So pull up a stool and tell us your favorite story. Because the ghost of the past are never too far away and have always loved to share a pint of their favorite spirit with new friends.
J.C.B
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