A tall tale begins innocently with convincing facts and a few trivial details thrown in. But in the course of the story the limits of believability are stretched to the breaking point. In the end we are left wondering how we could have been so naive, so darn gullible.America's tall tales have been handed down through generations and are tirmly rooted in character, situation and landscape. In the past a skillfully-told yarn was a diversion from the drudgery and monotony of everyday life and tellers of tall tales were held in high regard because their stories made people laugh.A tall tale is best enjoyed when told aloud. Dialect, intonation and gestures add to the story. A pause here. A shake of the head there. A practiced laugh. A wink, a sly smile or a deadpan look provide seasoning and can communicate as much as a well-placed word.In our modern fast-paced world, dominated by instant communication, changing technology and constant entertainment, the tall tale is no longer considered an essential part of everyday life. As a result, the telling of tall tales has become a dying art form.
Marshall was just ahead. Taylor called out. “Stop.” He held up the pistol. “Stop I said you stupid fool.” Marshall kept running. Taylor fired a shot. He missed. Taylor kept after him and rode right up to him. He tried to grab his shirt, ...
Author John L. Moore serves up a miscellany of fascinating depictions of obscure but authentic people and situations in this non-fiction book about the Pennsylvania Frontier between 1743 and 1778.
" "One can't go wrong with this work. It's the kind of tale one might read aloud to one's children out in the woods at evenings while huddled around a campfire." Thomas J. Brucia, Houston, Texas, bibliophile, outdoorsman and book reviewer.
Erastus “ Deaf ” , 58 , 105 , 124 , 209 , 232-37 Smith Co. , Tex . , 87 Smith , G. B. , 184 , 285 Smith , Governor Henry , 52 , 69 , 86 Smith , James " Camel Back " , 144 , 146 Smith , Gen. James , 142 , 154 , 155 , 173 , 174 , 186-89 ...
FRONTIER WAR for AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE WILLIAM R. NESTER “ The frontier war for their nation's independence is little known to most Americans , " writes historian William R. Nester . The American Revolution is commonly associated with ...
The preachers present were McKendree, Gwinn, Goddard, Travis, and Walker. ... His appearance led the great Dr. Bangs, of New York, to mentally to exclaim, "I wonder what awkward backwoodsman they have put in the pulpit this morning, ...
Contains three classic westerns by the beloved master of the genre--Riders of the Purple Sage, The Lone Star Ranger, and The Rainbow Trail.
Three great books from the acclaimed master of the American Western novel. Contents: The Man of the Forest The Light of the Western Stars The Last of the Plainsmen
Zane Grey. » FOREWORD It was inevitable that in my efforts to write.
Zane Grey. yellow , and there fringing the brow of another with gleaming gold , and lower down reflecting the sunlight with brilliant red and purple . The valley seemed filled with a delicate haze , almost like smoke .