Greenup in Greenup County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Jesse Stuart
Poet — Novelist — Educator
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education.
Location. 38° 34.689′ N, 82° 50.207′ W. Marker is in Greenup, Kentucky, in Greenup County. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greenup KY 41144, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. County Named, 1803 (here, next to this marker); Greenup “Town Fathers” (here, next to this marker); A Masterful Retreat (here, next to this marker); Raccoon Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky (approx. ¼ mile away); McKee House (approx. half a mile away); E. K. Railway (approx. 0.7 miles away); Jesse Stuart (1906-1984) (approx. 2.7 miles away); John M. McConnell House (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenup.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for Jesse Stuart. Jesse Hilton Stuart (August 8, 1906 – February 17, 1984) was an American writer, school teacher, and school administrator who is known for his short stories, poetry, and novels as well as non-fiction autobiographical works set in central Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of northeastern Kentucky for his writings. Stuart was named the poet laureate of Kentucky in 1954.
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Stuart's first novel was Trees of Heaven (1940). Set in rural Kentucky, the novel tells the story of Anse Bushman, who loves working the land and wants more land. Stuart's style is simple and sparse. Taps for Private Tussie (1943) is perhaps his most popular novel, selling more than a million copies in only two years. The novel also received critical praise and won the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Award for the best Southern book of the year. (Submitted on November 15, 2018.)
Additional commentary.
1. To Thine Own Self Be True
The inscription on the monument are derived from the first five lines of the poem “To Thine Own Self Be True” by English poet Pakenham Beatty (1855-1930). The full poem reads as follows.
By thine own soul’s law learn to live,
And if men thwart thee take no heed,
And if men hate thee have no care;
Sing thou thy song and do thy deed.
Hope thou thy hope and pray thy prayer,
And claim no crown they will not give,
Nor bays they grudge thee for thy hair.
Keep thou thy soul-worn steadfast oath,
And to thy heart be true thy heart;
What thy soul teaches learn to know,
And play out thine appointed part,
And thou shalt reap as thou shalt sow,
Nor helped nor hindered in thy growth,
To thy full stature thou shalt grow.
Fix on the future’s goal thy face,
And let thy feet be lured to stray
Nowhither, but be swift to run,
And nowhere tarry by the way,
Until at last the end is won
And thou mayst look back from thy place
And see thy long day’s journey done.
— Submitted November 15, 2018.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 15, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.