A Year without Months

Charles Dodd White's collection of fourteen essays explores the boundaries of family, loss, masculinity, and place, meditating on the suicides of his father, uncle, and son and discovering an intimate connection to the natural world and a renewed impulse to understand his family history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2022
Publisher: West Virginia University Press

This collection of fourteen essays by Charles Dodd White, hailed as one of the finest prose stylists of Appalachian literature by Silas House, delves into the intricate realms of family, loss, masculinity, and place. White's profound contemplation of the suicides of his father, uncle, and son leads him to explore the profound question of what it means to carry on when all that seems worth living for has been lost. Through his introspection, he uncovers an intimate connection to the natural world, a renewed desire to understand the complexities of his family history, and a steadfast commitment to following the threads that hint at the possibility of a fulfilling life.

White's writing avoids the temptation of easy sentiment and clichés, instead employing transformative language that drives toward renewal. In "A Year without Months," he introduces a vibrant and memorable cast of characters, skillfully navigating a wide range of emotions to provide insightful analysis of various subjects, including himself.

Through his essays, White invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and introspection, challenging them to confront their own beliefs and emotions. His writing is a testament to the power of literature to inspire change and offer hope in the face of adversity.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781952271526