Bluegrass History*

THE LIMESTONE TREE -- Joseph Hergesheimer -- Knopf ($2.50).

Gabriel Sash was a stony acorn who planted himself in Kentucky soil in 1769. He was a hunter, and by way of being a desperate character. Living in a settlement drove him nigh crazy, and when he had stood the confinement of married life six months, he lit out for the woods and never came back. But he left behind him the beginnings of the Sash family. His only-son, James, was a mild-tempered man, who spent most of his life fighting the Indians, French, English. After the wars were over, he married a beautiful nun and settled down to practice law in Frankfort. One day his cousin Jarrot Bensalem murdered him. James's partner, also a mild-mannered man, took care of Cousin Bensalem.

Feeling ran high in Kentucky, in the Sash family, when the Civil War was getting itself ready. When fighting began, there were Sashes in both armies. Wickliffe Sash, a captain in Morgan's raiders, got home for the last time to see his fiancee, found her in love with a Yankee officer. Elisha Abel, Wickliffe's cousin, was luckier. A Federal major, he came unscathed through the fighting in Tennessee, brought home a pretty wife to his Kentucky estate.

When John Dixon Folkes, expatriate, half-French, came to Kentucky in 1890 to visit his father's family, he was homesick for Paris. But he was only 17, and Susan Abel was pretty. When she let him seduce her he was going to let it go at that. But then old Gabriel, direct descendant of Hunter Gabriel, began to tell him some of the family history. By the time the old man finished, young John decided to marry the girl, stay in Kentucky.

The Author. Joseph Hergesheimer, middleaged, plump, well-to-do, says writing "takes more vitality than ditch-digging. Much more." A slow starter, he worked at his stories for 14 years before he sold one. Now he is rated as one of the half-dozen leading U. S. authors. His carefully ornamented, politely civilized style usually cloaks a plot that might seem melodramatic in a more homespun dress. He lives in West Chester, Pa., is married, and is a good hand at collecting antiques. Other books: The Three Black Pennys, Java Head, Cytherea, The Bright Shawl, Linda Condon.

* New books are news. Unless otherwise designated, all books reviewed in TIME were published within the fortnight. TIME readers may obtain any book of any U. S. publisher by sending check or money-order to cover regular retail price ($5 if price is unknown, change to be remitted) to Ben Boswell of TIME, 205 East 42nd St., New York City.

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