Stuart, Jesse H. (1906–1984)

Hie to the Hunters [Appalachian coming-of-age novel]

New York: Whittlesey House, 1950. Hardcover with Dust Jacket.
A BOY, A HOUND, AND THE KENTUCKY HILLS
A warmly inscribed copy of Jesse Stuart's beloved coming-of-age novel set in the hill country of eastern Kentucky. Drawing heavily upon the author's own Appalachian upbringing, Hie to the Hunters follows young Dave Stoneking as he matures through his experiences with family, community, and the natural world, particularly his bond with hunting dogs and the rugged landscape that shapes his character.

Part adventure story and part regional portrait, the novel celebrates the traditions, values, and rhythms of Appalachian life while exploring themes of responsibility, perseverance, and the transition from childhood to adulthood. It remains one of Stuart's most enduring works and a classic of twentieth-century regional American fiction.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Hardcover in dust jacket. Octavo; approximately 8 inches tall; 265 pages. Signed and warmly inscribed by Jesse Stuart on the front endpaper and dated August 18, 1967. 13th Printing.

CONDITION: Very Good in a Good Dust Jacket. The bindings are tight and square. Contents clean and sound. Spine ends lightly bumped and worn. Dust jacket shows edge wear, chipping, and light wrinkling along the extremities. Small light water stain at the upper corner of the rear panel. Still an attractive signed copy of a title becoming difficult to locate.

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
+++ Set in the Kentucky hill country.
+++ Explores hunting culture and rural traditions.
+++ Strong autobiographical elements drawn from Stuart's life.
+++ Celebrates Appalachian family and community values.
+++ Appalachian coming-of-age novel.
+++ One of Stuart's best-known novels.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Jesse Stuart stands among the most important literary voices to emerge from Appalachia during the twentieth century. A native of Greenup County, Kentucky, he built his reputation by portraying the people, landscapes, and traditions of the Appalachian region with unusual authenticity and affection. Unlike many regional writers who viewed mountain life from the outside, Stuart wrote from direct experience, drawing upon his upbringing in rural Kentucky and his lifelong career as an educator.

Published in 1949, Hie to the Hunters is widely regarded as one of Stuart's finest novels and remains a cornerstone of Appalachian literature. Through its depiction of hunting culture, family relationships, and rural community life, the novel preserves a vivid record of a way of life that was rapidly changing in postwar America. The work continues to be valued for its sympathetic portrayal of Appalachian culture and its contribution to the broader tradition of regional American fiction.

AUTHOR BACKGROUND —
Jesse Hilton Stuart (1906–1984) was an American novelist, poet, educator, and memoirist whose work is inseparably associated with the Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky. Over the course of a prolific career, he published more than sixty books, including novels, poetry collections, autobiographical works, and educational writings. His best-known titles include The Thread That Runs So True, Taps for Private Tussie, Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow, and Hie to the Hunters.

Stuart's writing reflects a deep commitment to the culture, language, and values of rural Appalachia. His works are frequently studied as important contributions to American regional literature and remain highly regarded for their vivid sense of place and strong autobiographical foundations.

SUBJECTS: Jesse Stuart; Appalachian Literature; Kentucky Fiction; Coming-of-Age Novels; Rural America; Hunting Dogs; Appalachian Culture; American Regionalism; Kentucky Authors; Signed First Editions and Association Copies; Twentieth-Century American Fiction; Outdoor Life and Sporting Fiction, Appalachian Literature; Regional American Fiction; Coming-of-Age Fiction; Signed Books.

Item #22045

Price: $75.00