Wind before Rain

by John D. Weaver

The Blue Ridge hills of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley provide the dramatic background for this story of two young lovers whose traditional way of life-- simple, rigorous, and independent-- is gradually yielding to inevitable change. He distrusts the new way of life, with its dependence on cash wages; she, eager for the comforts and excitements of town, argues, "Smart men don't work the land, smart men own it." In a series of powerful scenes the story moves to its climax. Mr. Weaver, whose family settled these very hills two hundred years ago, is thoroughly at home with the people he describes. They are real people with all the warmth and weaknesses of real humanity.

John D. Weaver grew up in Virginia, and was graduated from William and Mary College in 1932. After five years as feature writer, reporter, and copy reader, on the Kansas City Star, he resigned to devote his entire time to writing. In 1941 he was co-writer of the Atlantic Monthy's $1000 contest for the best short story by writers in their twenties.

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1942