National Network for Equitable Library Service

Under the sprawling branches of the ancient man-fig tree in the town square, the gossiby men of Thornham relax and spin colorful yarns for each other's amusements. There, reputations are established or sullied, and local rumors of all kinds are passed on and contested. Though they don't show it, they are effectively weaving a folk history of their own town and of the Old South.