Wade Gilley Sr. writes new novel "Foy's World" about a mountain family in the Great Depression.

Jan. 20, 2009

BOOK REVIEW: Violence, Race Relations Explored in Depression Era North Carolina in 'Foy's World'

By David M. Kinchen
Huntingtonnews Book Critic

Former Marshall University president Wade Gilley explores the world of North Carolina's mountain people in his first novel, "Foy's World" (AuthorHouse, Bloomington, IN., 172 pages, $11.99).

Gilley, who lives in Reston, VA, says his novel of murder and intrigue in the Tarheel State grew out of "many childhood memories growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains." Gilley has previously written two memoirs about two central figures in his life: His mother Forest Gilley in "Life Before Sister"; and his grandmother Oda Gilley in "Damn Right It Hurts." Gilley, who also served as president of Bluefield State College and, after leaving Marshall, as president of the University of Tennessee, has written many nonfiction books and academic articles.

"Foy's World" is primarily told through a series of conversations between a 45-year old grandmother, Sophia "Sophie" Robinson, and her 10-year old grandson, McFoy or "Foy" Robinson while sitting on the front porch of a deteriorating family home opposite a gushing mountain waterfall named Shining Springs.

Gilley plots the novel with two questions that are central in this story: First, Foy is obsessed with who he is, as an older cousin named Clyde has not so slyly called him "Colored." Ongoing discussions provide insight into the mountain culture of the time as Sophie and Foy, with the occasional unscheduled assistance of Foy's five year old sister, Rose Robinson, discuss the life and times as well as debate his origins sitting on that front porch looking at the waterfall.

Then, a murder occurs at the local movie theater and that story becomes intertwined with the continuing discussion of Foy's origins and life itself. A third and central character in this story, Rob "Whiskers" Goins, is arrested, tried and convicted for murder only to escape when some of his relatives shoot up the courthouse and succeed in setting him free. During the ensuing national manhunt, Goins emerges in the front porch discussions as a "non-church" Jew who just might be related to Foy. Needless to say the times, language and culture are intertwined throughout the book and provide insight into a hardscrabble life of a proud mountain culture in the mid-1930s.

Gilley also introduces the element of the Melungeons, a dark-skinned people whom Sophie describes to Foy as: "....special people that came over here from the old world long, long before Columbus got here. According to what your Uncle Frank says, their ship wrecked somewhere on the Nor' Carolina beaches and they went west to settle in the mountains here and over in Kentucky and Tennessee."

Another subplot involves a preacher, the Rev. Simon Strouth, who is shot in the throat during the trial of "Whiskers" Goins. His wife Patsy steps into the breach when Strouth is unable to speak; Patsy becomes a surprising success as an Appalachian version of Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), the world famous Los Angeles preacher and founder of the Foursquare Church.

"Foy's World" promises to be the first of a series: Sophie is a youthful 48 when the novel ends and she's a much too well drawn character to be limited to one novel. Too, Foy and Sophie make a delightful combination.

Foy's world is available at www.Amazon.com.