The Foxfire Book, Foxfire 2-3

by Eliot Wigginton (Editor)

The Foxfire books are a series of copyrighted anthologies of articles originally written for Foxfire magazine, along with additional content not suitable for the magazine format. Though first conceived primarily as a sociological work, recounting oral traditions, the books, particularly the early ones, were a commercial success as instructional works. Members of the 1970s back-to-the-land movement used the books as a basis to return to lives of simplicity. The first book was published in 1972 as The Foxfire Book. This was followed by an additional 11 books, titled in sequence Foxfire 2 through Foxfire 12. The students have published several additional specialty books under the Foxfire name, some of which have been published by the University of North Carolina Press. In 1972, the first of the highly popular Foxfire books was published, which collected published articles as well as new material. Both the magazine and books are based on the stories and life of elders and students, featuring advice and personal stories about subjects as wide-ranging as hog dressing, faith healing, blacksmithing, and Appalachian local and regional history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Nature, History, Science, Education, Crafts

Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Eliot Wigginton (born Brooks Eliot Wigginton) is an American oral historian, folklorist, writer and former educator. He was most widely known for developing the Foxfire Project, a writing project that led to a magazine and the series of best-selling Foxfire books, twelve volumes in all. These were based on articles by high school students from Rabun County, Georgia. In 1986 he was named "Georgia Teacher of the Year" and in 1989 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
Wigginton was born in West Virginia on November 9, 1942. His mother, Lucy Freelove Smith Wiggington, died eleven days later of "pneunomia due to acute pulmary edema," according to her death certificate. His maternal grandmother, Margaret Pollard Smith, was an associate professor of English at Vassar College and his father was a famous landscape architect, also named Brooks Eliot Wiggington. His family called him Eliot. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English from Cornell University and a second Master's from Johns Hopkins University. In 1966, he began teaching English in the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, located in the Appalachian Mountains of northeastern Georgia.
Wigginton began a writing project based on his students' collecting oral histories from local residents and writing them up. They published the histories and articles in a small magazine format beginning in 1967. Topics included all manner of folklife practices and customs associated with farming and the rural life of southern Appalachia, as well as the folklore and oral history of local residents. The magazine began to reach a national audience and became quite popular.
The first anthology of collected Foxfire articles was published in book form in 1972, and achieved best-seller status. Over the years, the schools published eleven other volumes. (The project transferred to the local public school in 1977.)
In addition, special collections were published, including The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery, Foxfire: 25 Years, A Foxfire Christmas, and The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games. Several collections of recorded music from the local area were released.

Reviews

[Nalora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this series in 1978, and became addicted right away. Having listened to and read some of the oral histories in the Library of Congress of the dustbowl era, the Foxfire books carried that tradition forward, and documented for future generations many of the old crafts and lore that were being lost in a nation quickly moving into the technological age.

The first three are the best, in my opinion, but all of the Foxfire books are worth reading. They are on my list of most recommended books.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read of how things were done years ago in the Appalachians. The interviewees' simple lives are a reminder of what we have lost with advances. Makes me question what we've really gained. How is it that we, who have so many time-saving devices, have little time for the pleasures of visiting with neighbors and family and the solitude with self?

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

So intriguing to take a step back in time.

[Ilena Holder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book set on arts and crafts most of us take for granted in our fast paced world.

[Ghost of a Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to own the complete set

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read book one. they're all good, though (perused the others)

[Jon Vance]

these books are the best i've ever read. i wish Eliot Wigginton could write some more. i would like to even give some of my own advice and information to the book

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

only have the first two

[Chuck Richmond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This are the books I take with me into the bunker.
The documentation of building a still alone will keep me in barter after the apocalypse.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this whole series of books. What a wonderful project to do with young people that allowed the rest of us insight into the lives of the people of this region.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Foxfire series is an absolute classic series on Appalachian lifeways!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series of books about Appalachian life and plain living.

[Veronica Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the lore and history. My grandfather's family had a lot to do with these books. I remember them talking about them when I was a kid. On to #2.

[Klaxondia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some solid practical advice and rural skills that ends with a good rant about how they faked the moon landing.