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Silk Stocking Street
120 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 6, 2021
An adequate—and interesting—account of life among the well-heeled in a Georgia town of a couple of thousand in the first years of the 20th Century. I was surprised to learn that malaria was regionally endemic at that time. (And would remain so until the Thirties; malaria was largely eradicated throughout the US in the Forties, I’ve discovered.)
Today’s reader will have to deal with the book’s racial patronizing and paternalism, which is extensive. “Mother once asked the little colored girl if her name was really Hurry Laura. ‘My mama never call me nothin’ but Laura,’ she replied. ‘But Miss Kate [Laura’s employer], she ain’t never call me nothin’ but Hurry Laura.’” (p. 23) An accurate portrayal of the time and place, to be sure. However, this book came out in 1970 and seems to be oblivious of or in denial of the civil rights groundswell of the Sixties.
The book is a compilation of stories originally written for the author’s adopted daughter and reflect the sunny side of life, so only independent background research would reveal that her father’s dry goods store was destroyed by fire when the author was nineteen years old. The loss of her adopted daughter at age eleven is also unexplained.
Today’s reader will have to deal with the book’s racial patronizing and paternalism, which is extensive. “Mother once asked the little colored girl if her name was really Hurry Laura. ‘My mama never call me nothin’ but Laura,’ she replied. ‘But Miss Kate [Laura’s employer], she ain’t never call me nothin’ but Hurry Laura.’” (p. 23) An accurate portrayal of the time and place, to be sure. However, this book came out in 1970 and seems to be oblivious of or in denial of the civil rights groundswell of the Sixties.
The book is a compilation of stories originally written for the author’s adopted daughter and reflect the sunny side of life, so only independent background research would reveal that her father’s dry goods store was destroyed by fire when the author was nineteen years old. The loss of her adopted daughter at age eleven is also unexplained.
September 13, 2025
At least the third time I have read this long out of print book.
A story of a small girl's childhood in a small southern town. Just one funny yet familiar paragraph after another. Sandersville Ga, is a town time forgot. I suspect what it looks like today and the people still act the same as they did in the early 20th century.
For those that are turned off by the racial behavior in the book. I have bad news for you. It still exists and in 100 years, I suspect our current social norms will be viewed equally as barbaric.
The house the author grew up in and is the centerpiece of the book still looks good.
https://theoldhouselife.com/2019/01/2...
Check out the porch!
Disclaimer: The author was a friend of my parents. I do not know how they knew each other. They all belonged to a group of friends that are best described as house people. I was dropped off at her apartment in Atlanta many times for baby sitting. All I remember is every surface had a knick knack. She often would take me out to dinner where she ate things I had never heard of, e.g. Shad Roe. eww
A story of a small girl's childhood in a small southern town. Just one funny yet familiar paragraph after another. Sandersville Ga, is a town time forgot. I suspect what it looks like today and the people still act the same as they did in the early 20th century.
For those that are turned off by the racial behavior in the book. I have bad news for you. It still exists and in 100 years, I suspect our current social norms will be viewed equally as barbaric.
The house the author grew up in and is the centerpiece of the book still looks good.
https://theoldhouselife.com/2019/01/2...
Check out the porch!
Disclaimer: The author was a friend of my parents. I do not know how they knew each other. They all belonged to a group of friends that are best described as house people. I was dropped off at her apartment in Atlanta many times for baby sitting. All I remember is every surface had a knick knack. She often would take me out to dinner where she ate things I had never heard of, e.g. Shad Roe. eww
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews