Trees Of Heaven

by Jesse Stuart

Originally published in 1940, Stuart's first novel introduced his reader to one of the most unforgettable characters of American literature―Boliver Tussie, the hard-drinking, happy-go-lucky squatter who works just enough to get by.

340 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1980

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

[Bill]

I appreciate how this book takes a snapshot of a time and place, develops strong characters that you could imagine to know, and has a respect for the earth and the seasons that is rare in most Americans today. I can see pieces of the Bushmans and the Tussies in people I know here in KY.

[Travis Marcum]

I recently finished Jesse Stuart’s “Trees of Heaven” and the themes within resonated with me, expectedly. I’m a Stuart fan. In my awesome opinion, all educators should read “The Thread That Runs So True” and “To Teach, To Love.” Anyone that’s hopped on the Silas House train as of late should also go back and read some Jesse Stuart.

The major takeaway from “Trees of Heaven” for me was reflective of Miles’ Law. That is, where you stand depends on where you sit.

Stuart develops an engulfing storyline around the interactions between the hard-working Bushmans and hard-partying squatters, the Tussies. Each family views life differently based on their circumstances and their values. By the end of the novel, I wasn’t sure who I sided with more.

Seems like we have a hard time getting along today just like the Bushmans and Tussies did in the 1920s. Maybe we need to revisit Miles’ Law and learn to compromise a little. Love God. Love each other.

[Stephen]

Reminds me of Dante's Inferno and the Odyssey....with a Kentucky twist. Great characters, dialogue and inspirational theme. Still maintain Mr Stuart is the Mark Twain of Appalachia.