Two More Stories of the Port William Membership

Port William

by Wendell Berry

Wendell Berry's short fiction has recently won new admirers with such collections as Watch With Me, Fidelity and The Wild Birds. We see his appreciation for the oral traditions of storytelling in these two new stories of the "Port William Membership" -- 'A Friend of Mine" follows Elton Penn as he works alone cutting tobacco, while the others house in nearby barn. Most of the story ts a meditation on work, its rhythm and strain. "The Inheritors" tells of an episode near the end of Wheeler Catlett's life when he enlists Danny Branch to accompany him to a cattle sale at the stockyards in Louisville. With considerable luck they survive the trip.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Southern, Historical Fiction

62 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Wendell Berry is a conservationist, farmer, essayist, novelist, professor of English and poet. He was born August 5, 1934 in Henry County, Kentucky where he now lives on a farm. The New York Times has called Berry the "prophet of rural America."

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book includes A Friend of Mine and The Inheritors both of which are also included in That Distant Land: The Collected Stories.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always in awe of Wendell Berry, of his pristine writing, of his characters who shine with strength and vulnerability and certainty, and of the way he lives his philosophy. This brief collection of two short stories is no exception. I’m always happy to visit the members of Port William and always sad I did not grow up among them.

[Josiah Faville · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really more like two chapters of what otherwise be wrapped into one of his other Port William novels.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughts on aging as only Wendell Berry can do.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

More from Port William.....

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains two stories that no other reviews seem to mention. So for those who are wondering, they are: "A Friend of Mine," which takes place in 1967, and is about Elton Penn; and "The Inheritors," which takes place in 1986, and involves Wheeler Catlett and Danny Branch.

I gave them 5 stars in September, and will be re-reading them soon, as I decided to read everything in narrative order. I'm just through everything through World War II. This project means I'm re-reading a bunch of stuff I already read, but I'm savoring Port William, and re-reading is a rich experience.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a couple of short stories that in some regards deal with getting old. The first one is about Elton Penn as he works at harvesting tobacco. The second one is about Wheeler Catlett as he drives to Louisville with Danny Branch. They are short reads that are made more enjoyable if you've actually read some of the other books about Port William so that you'll know the characters.

[Emma Schramm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahhhh. Wendell’s work never ceases to amaze me. Elton Penn is one of my favorite Port William members, and I especially enjoyed the first of the two stories, telling of Elton’s relationship with his work.