The Beautiful Mary Lee Settle
When I first read prolific WV novelist Mary Lee Settle‘s memoir, Addie, I felt kind of like I felt after reading Denise Giardina’s Storming Heaven (Denise has called Mary Lee her “literary mother”): like someone had spun out in gorgeous, poetic language the answers to so many of my questions about home.
Set in Settle’s ancestral homeland of Cedar Grove, WV, the book weaves together the story of Settle’s childhood, the life of her mythic grandmother, and the waves of resource extraction that have surged through the Kanawha Valley since it was first settled by whites.
I had never read Settle before (how could I have missed her?), but thanks to Gibbs Kinderman over at Allegheny Mountain Radio, I am now embarked upon what we hope will become an hour-long audio documentary about her work.
I’m dying to talk about this with someone else who’s read Addie, so get in touch if that’s you!
I am so grateful you are doing this project – Settle’s “Addie” put me under a spell when I read it a couple of years ago. I read the memoir because I wanted to become better acquainted with West Virginia writers, particularly its women writers. (I left West Virginia decades ago, just returning three years ago.) I could not stop talking about the book and asked everyone if they knew this writer’s work.
The husband of a friend told me he was distantly related to Settle. His family has lived in the state for many generations. I will let him know about your project and interest in contacting people who had a connection with Settle.
Thank you and good luck.
Marjorie Clarkson
Thanks so much for expressing your support, Marjorie! Do you want to be on an email list to get updates on the project?
Catherine – I have read and re-read Addie, and like to buy used copies and give them away. I think for people like us, there should be caution signs on Route 60 for the rubbernecking as we try to see the Cedar Grove mansion and point it out to others in the car.
You probably know Gordon Simmons served as chauffeur for Settle on one of her last visits here.
And I have photo of the Mason School of Fine Arts at 1206 Quarrier if you ever want to see it. (Where began the famous “elocution” lessons.)
Have fun! Love the website!