The Unsettling of America
Shiloh and Other Stories

Kinfolks

Kinfolks is a novelistic collection of short stories centered around Wilgus Collier, a young boy growing up in rural Kentucky during the 1940s and 1950s. The stories follow Wilgus from childhood into his early adulthood, exploring his relationships with his extended family and his Appalachian community. Gurney Norman introduces readers to Wilgus’s world through a series of vignettes that depict experiences with his family, particularly his parents and grandparents. These stories highlight the challenges and joys of rural life, offering a poignant look at complex family dynamics and the deep-rooted traditions of Appalachia. Throughout the book, Norman’s writing is characterized by its rich, evocative descriptions of the Appalachian landscape and its authentic portrayal of the region’s culture and people. Kinfolks–adapted for the screen as The Wilgus Stories–is celebrated for vivid storytelling that captures the essence of life in Kentucky coal country.

More Adult, Non-Juvenile Books

  • An intimate story of brotherhood, love, sacrifice, and betrayal set against the panoramic backdrop of an early twentieth-century America that eerily echoes our own time, The Cold Millions offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of a nation grappling with the chasm between rich and poor, between harsh realities and simple dreams.

  • Known for her keen insights into race, gender, and identity, Dunbar-Nelson's work captures the complexities of the African American experience with grace and depth.

  • From the gothic Old South to revolutionary Mexico, few writers have evoked such a multitude of worlds, both exterior and interior, as powerfully as Katherine Anne Porter.

  • Read the original inspiration for the new, boldly reimagined film from producers Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, starring Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Fantasia Barrino. Celebrating its fortieth anniversary, The Color Purple writes a message of healing, forgiveness, self-discovery, and sisterhood to a new generation of readers.  An inspiration to authors who continue to give voice to the multidimensionality of Black women’s stories, including Tayari Jones, Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, Jesmyn Ward, and more,  The Color Purple remains an essential read in conversation with storytellers today. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award A powerful cultural touchstone of [...]