Tuesday
Mar022010
Barry Hannah 1942-2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 04:32PM
Barry Hannah investigated a heart attack on 1 March and died. He was 67.
Even for a Southerner, his was a unique voice. Faulkneresque, O'Connorish, Southern gothic, Southern redneck, uncouth angel, Barry Hannah. With language concise and electrified, he wrote stories that make you flinch, stories that offend the gentle soul, stories like the car crash that draws your attention, stories like a streaker at the Super Bowl. Oh, but truth is beauty and there is beauty down the dirt road, dangling off the end of the cane pole, riding the rusted glider on the front porch; beauty and truth and honor in the tales that man told.
Even for a Southerner, his was a unique voice. Faulkneresque, O'Connorish, Southern gothic, Southern redneck, uncouth angel, Barry Hannah. With language concise and electrified, he wrote stories that make you flinch, stories that offend the gentle soul, stories like the car crash that draws your attention, stories like a streaker at the Super Bowl. Oh, but truth is beauty and there is beauty down the dirt road, dangling off the end of the cane pole, riding the rusted glider on the front porch; beauty and truth and honor in the tales that man told.
"The point is to strip down, get protestant, then even more naked. Walk over scorched bricks to find your own soul. Your heart a searching dog in the rubble."
-Barry Hannah
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