Abe ‘booked’ for Assumption Festival
Abraham Lincoln’s sense of fun will add to the
merriment at the Assumption Festival, scheduled for June 26, 27 and 28,
In the
1840s, noisy pigs wallowing under the Christian County
courthouse floor were so loud that an amused Lincoln asked the judge for a “writ of
quietus” for them.
That witty request has caused
ripples of smiles ever since. The episode anchors the newly released second
edition of “The Big Squeal,” a true story of the county’s “pigstory” written in
the voice of a real life pig named “Liberty .
“As told to author” Carol Alexander
of Taylorville will join “Sixteen Tons” writer Kevin Corley of Springfield at a special literary affair set
for 2 p.m. Saturday, June
27 during Assumption’s annual festival. They will welcome visitors in front of
the Assumption Historical Building .
Mingling with book lovers, the
authors will display, inscribe and sell their books rooted in area history.
In honor of the county’s 175th
birthday this year, each copy of “The Big Squeal” is adorned by a gold
medallion inscribed, “Collector’s Edition … 1839-2014.” The edition comes in
soft and hard covers.
Set in the often over-looked
heartland of America ,
“The Big Squeal” is the memoir of a formerly starving, orphan piglet that
discovered the Abe vs. courthouse pigs story while trotting along part of the
old Eighth Judicial Circuit, known as Lincoln ’s
muddy road to the presidency.
Mini-stories introduce readers of
all ages to Mr. Lincoln and his vital role in American history and to the
circuit itself. Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin of “Lincoln ” the movie fame praised the book as “A
rare glimpse into Abraham Lincoln’s lighter side…”
Colorful original illustrations
portray real people of all ages and diversity, pioneering and current
courthouses and other landmarks. Among the featured caricatures is Christian
County Board Chairman Paul Schmitz of Pana.
A folk art map created by Taylorville High School
students Camille Beyers and Mathen Campbell opens the book. It also adorns
coffee/chocolate/juice mugs and postcards, which commemorate the county’s 175th
anniversary.
Both “The Big Squeal” and “Sixteen
Tons” are available on amazon.com. A saga of coal mining history and union
wars, “Sixteen Tons” may be purchased at Dana’s Book Exchange on the Taylorville Square .
“The Big Squeal” is sold at Cottage Rose Gift Shoppe and PS Printing on the
square.
The book is also available at OTP's website at www.ShopOTPbooks.com
No comments:
Post a Comment