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Daughter of the Legend
A regional love story set in the hills of Tennessee against a backdrop of mystery and racial misunderstanding. Dave, a young lumberjack, falls in love with Deutsia, a Melungeon girl. Her people are shunned by the valley people and the relationship splits the lifetime friendship of Dave and his best friend, Ben. Edited and preface written by John H. Spurlock and the afterword by Brent Kennedy.
242 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
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164 people want to read
About the author
Jesse Stuart
183 books58 followersJesse Hilton Stuart was an American writer known for writing short stories, poetry, and novels about Southern Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of Northeastern Kentucky for his writings. Stuart was named the Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 1954. He died at Jo-Lin nursing home in Ironton, Ohio, which is near his boyhood home.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 15, 2020
I was actually introduced to some of Jesse Stuart's short fiction in grade school, and read and liked his collection Clearing in the Sky & Other Stories back in the early 90s (though I have yet to review it). Being interested in the Appalachian region, I've always wanted to explore his long fiction, so this was my first foray into that part of his corpus.
In a sense, this is a timely read, since it deals with cross-cultural, interracial love and marriage. But it's a reminder that American racial relations deal with more than two groups, because the minority focused on here are the Melungeons, a tiny ethnic group about whom most Americans have probably never even heard. (They're mentioned in Mildred Haun's story "Melungeon-Colored," from her collection The Hawk's Done Gone, which was my first introduction to them, and gives a good idea of the murderous hatred with which they've been regarded historically by some of their neighbors, and I'd read a bit about them since in various venues; but this novel was a real immersion into their culture.) Usually darker-complexioned than most Anglo-Saxons, their origins are shrouded in mystery and legend (they're sometimes called "Sons and Daughters of the Legend," hence the title here). The Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melungeon ) dogmatically asserts that they're the product of black-white-mulatto unions in the colonial South; but most sources view them as a combination of white, black and American Indian ancestry, and from what I've read elsewhere, the first Anglo-Saxon settlers pushing into what's now Tennessee found the Melungeons already there, and distinct from the Indians by reason of their language, use of metals, and practice of a form of Christianity. (Some writers have theorized that the white component in their ancestry may go back all the way to Semites fleeing from ancient Carthage after its fall, by way of the Iberian peninsula; Stuart touches on all of these theories briefly in dialogue in the book, but avoids very lengthy info-dumps.)
Our setting is northeast Tennessee, where most Melungeons live ("Cantwell County" is fictional, but it accurately reflects real-life analogs); no date is given for the events, but based on a character's passing comment that I interpret as a reference to FDR's quest for a third term, I'd say it's 1940-41. (Prohibition is in the past, but still remembered; horses and mules are still commonly used for transportation, and barter is common, as it was in cash-strapped Appalachia through the Depression years.) Regionalist Realism is obviously the literary tradition into which Stuart most naturally fits as a writer, and this novel exemplifies, and contributes to, that tradition; but (at least here) he also evokes emotions as powerful and complex as any Romantic author ever conjured. (I'll avoid spoilers, but I will say that this is a read which definitely packs a wallop.) And while this is not a "romance" novel in the conventional sense, it is a depiction of a great and sincere love. It could be said to be insta-love (although we learn, a fair way into the book, that Dave and Deutsia have known each other about two months --their first meeting isn't depicted, and they're already smitten with each other when we meet them), and Dave's early praises of her are mostly in terms of her looks; but rapid and genuine attractions between people do happen in real life, and it's soon clear that these two value each other for personal character qualities that go beyond looks.
Dave serves as first-person narrator throughout (his narrative voice is simple and straightforward, with the diction of an Appalachian native who's intelligent but not highly educated), so readers who dislike first-person should be warned. While there's a small amount of profanity and swearing, within the bounds of realism for these characters, there's no explicit sex, and it's dubious whether there's any implied sex, beyond the obvious inference that it can be expected after marriage. (Caught in a torrential downpour while courting, our H/h have to spend a night on a bed of leaves in an improvised shelter under a rock overhang, but Stuart doesn't gratify anybody's curiosity about whether anything happened but sleep --and the characters would probably point out, correctly, that the subject isn't really any of the readers' business.) Religion is treated respectfully, even in the form of snake-handling Pentecostalism, as is Melungeon culture ("warts and all"). Not all the attitudes and practices here accord with modern sensibilities, and the treatment of the Melungeon community by the majority culture might make most readers angry enough to want to hit something --or somebody. (By now, laws at least have undoubtedly changed; but then, they were treated as one of the "dark races" under the laws against "miscegenation," "educated" only up to the eighth grade in sub-standard segregated schools, victimized by selective law enforcement, exploited economically, denied admission to some businesses or to standard medical care, and generally viewed with prejudice, contempt or outright hatred.) Though Stuart doesn't deal with it as an issue, readers who know anything about Appalachian ecology will be appalled by the glimpse of the clear-cutting of Appalachia's old-growth forests that was going on then (Dave's employed as a tree cutter). But if the above doesn't scare you away, this was a completely absorbing read that still has me thinking (and reeling emotionally); and it would probably be a great read for book clubs, because there is a lot of fodder here for discussion questions.
Note: There's a 1994 reprint edition of this novel, published by the Jesse Stuart Foundation, and edited by a John H. Spurlock (I'm not sure why it required editing by anybody!), which has good cover art; but what I read was the original 1965 edition, with a plain yellow hard cover.
In a sense, this is a timely read, since it deals with cross-cultural, interracial love and marriage. But it's a reminder that American racial relations deal with more than two groups, because the minority focused on here are the Melungeons, a tiny ethnic group about whom most Americans have probably never even heard. (They're mentioned in Mildred Haun's story "Melungeon-Colored," from her collection The Hawk's Done Gone, which was my first introduction to them, and gives a good idea of the murderous hatred with which they've been regarded historically by some of their neighbors, and I'd read a bit about them since in various venues; but this novel was a real immersion into their culture.) Usually darker-complexioned than most Anglo-Saxons, their origins are shrouded in mystery and legend (they're sometimes called "Sons and Daughters of the Legend," hence the title here). The Wikipedia article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melungeon ) dogmatically asserts that they're the product of black-white-mulatto unions in the colonial South; but most sources view them as a combination of white, black and American Indian ancestry, and from what I've read elsewhere, the first Anglo-Saxon settlers pushing into what's now Tennessee found the Melungeons already there, and distinct from the Indians by reason of their language, use of metals, and practice of a form of Christianity. (Some writers have theorized that the white component in their ancestry may go back all the way to Semites fleeing from ancient Carthage after its fall, by way of the Iberian peninsula; Stuart touches on all of these theories briefly in dialogue in the book, but avoids very lengthy info-dumps.)
Our setting is northeast Tennessee, where most Melungeons live ("Cantwell County" is fictional, but it accurately reflects real-life analogs); no date is given for the events, but based on a character's passing comment that I interpret as a reference to FDR's quest for a third term, I'd say it's 1940-41. (Prohibition is in the past, but still remembered; horses and mules are still commonly used for transportation, and barter is common, as it was in cash-strapped Appalachia through the Depression years.) Regionalist Realism is obviously the literary tradition into which Stuart most naturally fits as a writer, and this novel exemplifies, and contributes to, that tradition; but (at least here) he also evokes emotions as powerful and complex as any Romantic author ever conjured. (I'll avoid spoilers, but I will say that this is a read which definitely packs a wallop.) And while this is not a "romance" novel in the conventional sense, it is a depiction of a great and sincere love. It could be said to be insta-love (although we learn, a fair way into the book, that Dave and Deutsia have known each other about two months --their first meeting isn't depicted, and they're already smitten with each other when we meet them), and Dave's early praises of her are mostly in terms of her looks; but rapid and genuine attractions between people do happen in real life, and it's soon clear that these two value each other for personal character qualities that go beyond looks.
Dave serves as first-person narrator throughout (his narrative voice is simple and straightforward, with the diction of an Appalachian native who's intelligent but not highly educated), so readers who dislike first-person should be warned. While there's a small amount of profanity and swearing, within the bounds of realism for these characters, there's no explicit sex, and it's dubious whether there's any implied sex, beyond the obvious inference that it can be expected after marriage. (Caught in a torrential downpour while courting, our H/h have to spend a night on a bed of leaves in an improvised shelter under a rock overhang, but Stuart doesn't gratify anybody's curiosity about whether anything happened but sleep --and the characters would probably point out, correctly, that the subject isn't really any of the readers' business.) Religion is treated respectfully, even in the form of snake-handling Pentecostalism, as is Melungeon culture ("warts and all"). Not all the attitudes and practices here accord with modern sensibilities, and the treatment of the Melungeon community by the majority culture might make most readers angry enough to want to hit something --or somebody. (By now, laws at least have undoubtedly changed; but then, they were treated as one of the "dark races" under the laws against "miscegenation," "educated" only up to the eighth grade in sub-standard segregated schools, victimized by selective law enforcement, exploited economically, denied admission to some businesses or to standard medical care, and generally viewed with prejudice, contempt or outright hatred.) Though Stuart doesn't deal with it as an issue, readers who know anything about Appalachian ecology will be appalled by the glimpse of the clear-cutting of Appalachia's old-growth forests that was going on then (Dave's employed as a tree cutter). But if the above doesn't scare you away, this was a completely absorbing read that still has me thinking (and reeling emotionally); and it would probably be a great read for book clubs, because there is a lot of fodder here for discussion questions.
Note: There's a 1994 reprint edition of this novel, published by the Jesse Stuart Foundation, and edited by a John H. Spurlock (I'm not sure why it required editing by anybody!), which has good cover art; but what I read was the original 1965 edition, with a plain yellow hard cover.
August 8, 2017
A timeless story
Daughter of the Legend is set in one of the most sacred places I know, my own backyard. The peoples of the Appalachian mountains are often misunderstood and stereotyped. Jesse Stuart successfully captured the essence of the mountain people and the beauty of the often unforgiving landscape in a timeless tale of the strength and love.
Daughter of the Legend is set in one of the most sacred places I know, my own backyard. The peoples of the Appalachian mountains are often misunderstood and stereotyped. Jesse Stuart successfully captured the essence of the mountain people and the beauty of the often unforgiving landscape in a timeless tale of the strength and love.
June 29, 2012
One of my favorite books of all time. It is a love story set in the Cumberland gap region of East Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky. A man falls in love with a Melungeon girl whose native people were looked down upon. It is great story about mountain life.
January 11, 2017
A Mountain Tale of Pride and Prejudice!
Stuart's narrative not only shows authentic knowledge and love for Appalachia, it demonstrates his understanding of human nobility contrasted with its historic frailty. His simple but powerful prose roils the emotions.
Stuart's narrative not only shows authentic knowledge and love for Appalachia, it demonstrates his understanding of human nobility contrasted with its historic frailty. His simple but powerful prose roils the emotions.
May 19, 2011
I love books about Kentucky and the surrounding areas. Good story about the Melungeons and people of the mountains. Lots of interesting facts about that area.
November 22, 2020
Dave Stoneking, a lumber jack working near the Tennessee border with Virginia, falls in love with the most beautiful girl in town, Deutsia Huntoon. He can’t take her to the town’s tavern or to the local dances though, because she belongs to the Melungeon peoples, a mixed race that is not accepted in town. Her people live on Sanctuary Mountain; the people in the Valley refuse to mingle with them.
The Melungeons tend to be dark and might be mixed descendants from Portuguese, American Indian, Spanish or African people. No one is sure.
After fighting with his best friend over his love for Deutsia, Dave parts with him and moves to the Mountain so he can be with her. It is a difficult decision because the Melungeon people do not trust him and neither do the Valley people after the move. Dave finds the Mountain people to be good, kind and generous people. They live off the land and make almost everything they have. He wants to change the way they are treated by the Valley people, but their resistance is too strong. The Valley people will gladly buy the Melungeon’s moonshine, though.
Author Jesse Stuart wrote Daughter of the Legend in 1945. His story probably takes place early in the twentieth century. A few people have cars and there is electricity in the Valley, but not on the Mountain. The Clinch River is important to the Mountain people, but no mention is made of the dam on the River which was finished in 1936.
Dave, Deutsia, and the other people on the Mountain live a simple life. When hunting and fishing is good they eat well. The Mountain is steep and icy so in the winter, people mostly stay near their shanty. (Their homes are called shanties, not cabins.) They appreciate the beauty of the natural world around them.
Daughter of the Legend is a fictional love story which highlights a people I never heard of even though I live only a hundred miles from them. It reminds me of the recent books about the Blue people of Kentucky (The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson and The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes).
Jesse Stuart’s writing is plain and simple. His sentences tend to be uncomplicated and his story telling is straight forward. He tells a good story of love and hardship through Dave’s eyes. I enjoyed his description of how the people on the Mountain live, including their snake handling church services.
My Kindle edition includes an Introduction by Wilma Dykeman.
The Melungeons tend to be dark and might be mixed descendants from Portuguese, American Indian, Spanish or African people. No one is sure.
After fighting with his best friend over his love for Deutsia, Dave parts with him and moves to the Mountain so he can be with her. It is a difficult decision because the Melungeon people do not trust him and neither do the Valley people after the move. Dave finds the Mountain people to be good, kind and generous people. They live off the land and make almost everything they have. He wants to change the way they are treated by the Valley people, but their resistance is too strong. The Valley people will gladly buy the Melungeon’s moonshine, though.
Author Jesse Stuart wrote Daughter of the Legend in 1945. His story probably takes place early in the twentieth century. A few people have cars and there is electricity in the Valley, but not on the Mountain. The Clinch River is important to the Mountain people, but no mention is made of the dam on the River which was finished in 1936.
Dave, Deutsia, and the other people on the Mountain live a simple life. When hunting and fishing is good they eat well. The Mountain is steep and icy so in the winter, people mostly stay near their shanty. (Their homes are called shanties, not cabins.) They appreciate the beauty of the natural world around them.
Daughter of the Legend is a fictional love story which highlights a people I never heard of even though I live only a hundred miles from them. It reminds me of the recent books about the Blue people of Kentucky (The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson and The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes).
Jesse Stuart’s writing is plain and simple. His sentences tend to be uncomplicated and his story telling is straight forward. He tells a good story of love and hardship through Dave’s eyes. I enjoyed his description of how the people on the Mountain live, including their snake handling church services.
My Kindle edition includes an Introduction by Wilma Dykeman.
January 8, 2023
The bittersweet love story of Deutsia Huntoon and Dave Stoneking never gets old for me. I re-read it hoping for a different ending, but Jesse Stuart never intended for this to be a happily ever after type of literature. So much of his writing depicts the hard lives of Appalachians in the past. My favorite part of Daughter of the Legend is when Dave learns about planting by the signs. I'm sure this information is available in other books, but this makes Daughter of the Legend almost a reference book for the way people used to live.
July 25, 2020
Great Book - Great Story!
I have been interested in Melungeons for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I most likely have Melungeon heritage in my family history. DNA tests have pointed to this conclusion and the fact that many of my ancestors lived in North Carolina and Tennessee. I have read several books about the origins of the Melungeons and this book is second to none.
I have been interested in Melungeons for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that I most likely have Melungeon heritage in my family history. DNA tests have pointed to this conclusion and the fact that many of my ancestors lived in North Carolina and Tennessee. I have read several books about the origins of the Melungeons and this book is second to none.
August 16, 2021
A real palate cleanser ....informative, virtue driven characters with a very healthy dose of mother nature. A book that makes you proud to have read it.
August 30, 2023
I love this story! Have been drawn into the lives of these characters for over 50 years.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews