Understory: Women's History of Appalachia -

Reading with Pauletta Hansel and Linda Parsons

October 30

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Free and Open to the public

Lilienthal Gallery, 23 Emory Place, Knoxville TN

Pauletta Hansel reads from Understory: A Women’s History of Appalachia, which weaves history, genealogy, memoir, and poetry to chronicle the untold story of her foremothers, from a Jamestown Bride through the Appalachian women of today. In revealing generations of women whose experiences have only been glimpsed within others' narratives, Understory is not simply one family's story—it is a microcosm of the history of Appalachian American women.

Knoxville Poet Laureate Linda Parsons joins visiting writer Pauletta Hansel in this literary celebration of women’s lives.

Pauletta Hansel is a poet, memoirist, and teacher whose eleven books include Understory: A Women’s History of Appalachia. Awards include the Poetry Society of Virginia’s North American Book Award, the Weatherford Award, and Judy Gaines Young Book Award. Born and raised in southeastern Kentucky, Pauletta was the first poet laureate of Cincinnati, where she has lived since 1979.

Linda Parsons is the Poet Laureate of Knoxville. She is also the poetry editor for Madville Publishing and the copy editor for Chapter 16, the literary website of Humanities Tennessee. She is published widely, and her sixth collection is Valediction: Poems and Prose. Five of her plays have been produced by Flying Anvil Theatre in Knoxville.