The Lost Guidon (ePub)

Mary Noailles Murfree, an American fiction writer prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was born on January 24, 1850, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and passed away on July 31, 1922. Murfree wrote under the pen name 'Charles Egbert Craddock' and is renowned for her depictions of the Appalachian region and its inhabitants. She stealthily concealed her female identity to ensure her works were taken seriously in a male-dominated literary market. A graduate of Chegaray Institute in Philadelphia, Murfree developed an interest in the local color movement, which sought to preserve the distinctive cultures of rural America. Her writing often featured the Tennessee mountain folk and their vernacular, which she masterfully rendered with authenticity. 'The Lost Guidon' is one of Murfree's explorations into the historic and folkloric textures of rugged mountain life, drawing from local storytelling traditions and history. Her literary style is characterized by vivid descriptions, a deep empathy for her characters, and a narrative that intertwines nature with human experiences. Murfree's work significantly contributed to American regional literature, bringing attention to folklore, regional dialects, and landscapes through her rich prose. Her keen observation and portrayal of Appalachian culture have granted her a lasting place in the canon of American literature.