The Louisville Anthology

by Erin Keane

What is Louisville’s identity in the twenty-first century? Is it the Southernmost Midwestern city, the Midwestiest Southern town, or somewhere in between? Living on the border of two regions creates a hybrid sensibility full of contradictions that can be difficult to articulate beyond “from Louisville, not Kentucky.” In this collection of evocative essays and poems by natives and transplants, The Louisville Anthology offers locals and visitors a closer look at compelling private and public spaces in an attempt to articulate what defines Louisville beyond―but also inclusive of―its most recognized cultural exports.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2020

Reviews

[Kyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There is no definitive Louisville, as I hope readers will see in the writing collected in this book, much of it is personal and vulnerable..." (14).

This anthology delivers on this premise set forth by the editor in the Introduction highlighted above. Woven together in the collection of works is deeply personal accounts of various people interacting with the central city of Louisville, Kentucky. It details perspectives of transplants finding the rave scene, a family moving down into historic Old Louisville in a house with history beyond their years, a young girl selling parking spaces in her yard for Derby day, the Louisville punk band community, the competitive bar trivia scene, and even an errant mummy in The Great Flood of 1937.

As a person who lived in Louisville briefly, it is interesting to read the wildly different perspectives and passages and both aspects of the city I hadn't realized and glimpses of the city I experienced in my time as a resident. I thought this anthology delivered on the premise it set forth and was a collection which I would recommend to those looking to see Louisville through eyes not their own.

[Michael Lewyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, this was one of the less engaging books in the "Anthology" series. It reads like an extremely long issue of an alternative weekly, with lots of stories about local rock/punk bands and complaining about the racism/sexism/homophobia of local residents. Having said that, I'm biased: I have seen more of Louisville than of other cities I've read about recently in this series, so maybe the material seems less fresh to me than essays about a city I have never visited.

[David Allen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different people's perspectives of my home town.

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/lKcPCR0WuKA

Enjoy!