The University of Tennessee Press Announces the Publication of “This Day and Time: A Critical Edition” by Anne W. Armstrong

The University of Tennessee Press is proud to announce the publication of “This Day and Time: A Critical Edition” by Anne W. Armstrong, edited by Linda Behrend. The expanded edition of this classic Appalachian novel is available in paperback and ebook formats on Friday, May 23, wherever books are sold.

First released in 1930 and long out of print, Anne W. Armstrong’s “This Day and Time” is often cited as the first novel to depict life in Appalachia realistically. Though fictional, it provides readers with a deeper understanding of what life was like in the region during the early twentieth century.

In this new critical edition, Linda Behrend, retired librarian and published scholar, provides an introduction positing Armstrong as a regional figure of historical significance. An extensive bibliography includes archival and primary sources, reviews of the book from its original release, reviews of stage adaptations of the book, and sources that shed light on its unique linguistic style.

In an endorsement of the volume, critically acclaimed author Ron Rash says, “Ivy Ingoldsby, the heroine of this novel, is a powerful depiction of one woman’s enduring strength and independence in the hard-scrabble world of Depression Appalachia. Armstrong is a gifted writer, most impressively in her vivid descriptions of the Appalachian landscape.” In addition to the critical materials, Behrend comes to the novel with an expertise in Armstrong’s biography, having edited her memoir “Of Time and Knoxville: Fragment of an Autobiography” (University of Tennessee Press) for publication in 2023.

“This Day and Time: A Critical Edition” is available for purchase at utpress.org and wherever books are sold.