Ray Hicks: Master Storyteller of the Blue Ridge

by Robert Isbell

Ray Hicks, 78, the famous teller of Appalachian Jack Tales, is one of America's best-loved storytellers. In this book he shares a different kind of story, a chronicle of his family's experiences in the remote section of the North Carolina mountains where they have lived for more than 200 years.

The pioneers who settled Beech Mountain were a God-fearing people who cherished the stories, the songs, and the ways of their ancestors. For generations, the Hickses have preserved tales of family history--the struggles and the celebrations--right alongside tales of giants and magic hens. Now readers will come to know the wisdom, humor, hardships, and dignity of this remarkable clan. Robert Isbell's profile of Ray Hicks and his family also pays tribute to the longstanding Appalachian traditions of music-making and storytelling. First published in 1996 as The Last Chivaree , the book is based on hundreds of hours of conversations and many years of friendship.

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2001

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and eloquent biography on the legendary storyteller Ray Hicks and his family who called Beech Mountain, NC their home. The bulk of the information found within this book derives from interviews of Ray Hicks, his family, friends and neighbors conducted by the author Robert Isbell.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ray Hicks: Master Storyteller of the Blue Ridge by Robert Isbell (UNC Press 1996)(974+/-). Ray Hicks is acclaimed as the "Master Storyteller of the Blue Ridge," but this is a collection of actual stories and events from his childhood growing up on Beech Mountain, North Carolina. True though they may be, these stories are less than compelling. No wonder the author grew up and learned to tell tales! My rating: 7/10, finished 1/12/15.

[Tira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminds me of home!