Big Laurel

Published in 1922, 'Big Laurel' by Frederick Orin Bartlett is a novel set in the rural mountains of North Carolina. It follows the lives of Bud Childers, a self-reliant mountaineer, and Roxie Kester, a spirited young woman, as they navigate their complex feelings amidst the arrival of Captain Edward Allston, a war veteran. The story explores themes of isolation, longing, and the cultural clash between traditional mountain life and outside influences, revealing the emotional entanglements and tensions that arise in this insular community.