Mountain Singer: Byron Herbert Reece

Byron Herbert Reece 1917-1958) - "Renowned Appalachian poet, novelist, and farmer, Byron Herbert Reece lived most of his life in Union County in North Georgia. There he composed, to critical acclaim, four volumes of poetry and two novels, Better a Dinner of Herbs and The Hawk and the Sun. Reece was a five-time recipient of the Georgia Writers Association's literary achievement award and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in poetry for Bow Down in Jericho. He served as poet-in-residence at the University of California at Los Angeles, Emory University, and Young Harris College." - From the text of the State of Georgia Historical Marker at the site of Reece's Farm and Heritage Center in Union County, Georgia

Storyteller Librarian Jackie Elsner sings Reece's literary ballads to traditional Scots-Irish ballad tunes, shares his poems and his life story. Program concludes with viewing of DVDThe Bitter Berry with Friends, an oral history project of interviews with people who had known Reece at various times in his life.