The Picture Frame, and Other StoriesIn this book of stories -- most never before published -- Robert Drake has written his most poignant collection thus far. With the theme of the picture frame, Drake has included people, places, and events of a most recent past. "Crowded in the picture" are unforgettable images of memory and grace, love and remorse. But more than the characters and the subjects of the story, the draw of this collection is once again Drake's use of language. The language is the language of the South. It is the language of humanity. While the stories look back, they do so without regret. They were great times, but so is the present. From the town of Woodville to St. Mark's Square in Venice, Drake's powerful language draws the reader not only into the book, but also into the photographs. |
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anyhow anyway asked Aunt Gladys Auntee Barnes believe Bette Davis Bob Dudley called certainly child child prodigy church cotton Cousin Emma Cousin Rosa Drake due course Eddie especially father felt finally Flannery O'Connor folks front hand heard husband Joe Fitzpatrick Johnny kind knew lady Lake later less little girl live Lois looked married Mary Anne Mary Sue matter Memphis Methodist Miss Lucy Mississippi mother naturally never night Nutbush Obion River observation car old friend older parents Patricia Peabody Hotel perhaps pickup truck play pretty remember river seemed sense somehow sometimes sort stories suppose sure talk tell Tennessee thing thought told Tommy took town trying turn Uncle John usually wanted West Tennessee whole wife William Faulkner woman wondered Woodville World War II young
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Page viii - Man is conceived in sin and born in corruption and he passeth from the stink of the didie to the stench of the shroud.
Page 25 - They do me wrong who say I come no more When once I knock and fail to find you in; For every day I stand outside your door And bid you wake and rise to fight and win.
Page 31 - I am in earnest. I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch. AND I WILL BE HEARD.
Page 145 - WE do not presume to come to this thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthv so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy : grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his...
Page xi - I told you if you ever mentioned Annie Flo's name I'd slap your face," says Mama, and slaps my face. "All right, you wait and see," I says. "I," says Mama, "/ prefer to take my children's word for anything when it's humanly possible.
Page 56 - Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? »the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted ; neither turneth he back from the sword.
Page xii - Just then something perfectly horrible occurred to me. "Mama," I says, "can that child talk?" I simply had to whisper! "Mama, I wonder if that child can be— you know— in any way? Do you realize," I says, "that she hasn't spoken one single, solitary word to a human being up to this minute?
Page 74 - We praise Thee, O God, For the Son of Thy love, For Jesus who died And is now gone above. Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Hallelujah, amen! Hallelujah, Thine the glory! Revive us again.