"One can't put a finger on the secret of his art. Plenty of people have visited out-of-the-way communities and written about them, and editors and publishers are not usually encouraged toward authors who propose to do it again. Carmer does it, and makes it seem important, as though he were leading up to a generalization which would make complicated matters seem plain."—New York Times
"People (of the past) Carl Carmer has drawn vividly—but most successful of all are his pictures of the living people he met on the way."—Walter D. Edmonds
"Carmer has put down the beauty, the oddity, and human smack and savor of what he saw. And throughout the pages, he has done it with understanding."—Stephen Vincent Benet
Description
Listen for a Lonesome Drum: A York State Chronicle brings to life the rich folklore, eccentric characters, and haunting legends of upstate New York. Traveling across the region—from Buffalo to the Adirondacks—Carl Carmer introduces readers to the Seneca and Tuscarora nations, the infamous Loomis Gang, the curious case of the Cardiff Giant, and the chilling tale of the Murdered Bride of Rensselaer County. These are not merely tales of the past—they echo a cultural landscape shaped by faith, scandal, resilience, and imagination.
Part cultural chronicle, part literary time capsule, this classic work invites readers to rediscover New York State not as it appears on maps, but as it endures in memory and legend.
About the Author
Carl Carmer is the author of Stars Fell on Alabama and The Tavern Lamps Are Burning. He was for many years the editor of the distinguished Rivers of America series.
Related Interest
May 1995