Come Back to the Farm

by Jesse Stuart, John H. Spurlock (Introduction)

Come Back to the Farm is a collection of sixteen stories which reflect Appalachia at its essence; most often they are gentle in tone, but they portray the pioneer spirit, the self-reliance, and the humor of the hill people of Stuart's Kentucky homeland.

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Jesse Hilton Stuart was an American writer known for writing short stories, poetry, and novels about Southern Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of Northeastern Kentucky for his writings. Stuart was named the Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 1954. He died at Jo-Lin nursing home in Ironton, Ohio, which is near his boyhood home.

Reviews

[Heather Ummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I discovered this lost author. I needed a new obsession 😄 I’ve ordered most of his books now and am making my way through them. This is my Wendell Berry. A poet from Kentucky who also wrote essays, numerous books and had a deep love for his native Kentucky. If you want a good dose of the sense of place and beauty of Kentucky hills and valleys, minus a starry-eyed idealism, Jesse Stuart is your man.

[Art · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse Stuart is a great story teller about life in Kentucky.
I really enjoyed the story about "Victory and the Dream" and "wild plums".
Farming and plowing w/mules and overcoming problems in one's life.
How to relate to the elderly and show them some time.

[CFAITC]

This collection of 16 stories provides an essence of Appalachian life, which includes the pioneer spirit and self-reliance.

[Jim Kownacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of short stories of life in Appalachia. Some good some not so much.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't really start this book until May 2020. But I finished it. Once I started reading, I really wanted to know what will happen. It is true that the main character is the land. But the quiet lives of regular country people illustrate dignity and strength, and now show us a way of life that has largely ended in North America.
Don't expect action or revelations from this book. It's a quiet, thoughtful book. And it's worth the read.