Political Gabfest
Gabfest Reads: How a David Copperfield Reimagining Speaks to the Soul of Appalachia
Aug 19, 2023
Author Barbara Kingsolver discusses her new book Demon Copperhead, a modern-day adaptation of David Copperfield that explores the impact of the opioid epidemic on Appalachia. They talk about shaping character voices, challenges of rural living, and the failure of social welfare networks. The podcast also includes an interview with Kingsolver about her experiences growing up in Appalachia.
30:03
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Quick takeaways
- 'Demon Copperhead' was influenced by 'David Copperfield' and aims to shed light on the historical exploitation and poverty in Appalachia.
- The book captures the authentic Appalachian voices without resorting to condescending or misspelled dialects and explores the impact of structural poverty and institutional failures.
Deep dives
Inspiration from Dickens and the Opioid Epidemic
Barbara King-Solver discusses how her book, 'Demon Copperhead,' was influenced by Charles Dickens' 'David Copperfield' and the opioid epidemic in Appalachia. She wanted to tell the story of the orphans affected by the epidemic and shed light on the historical exploitation and poverty in the region.
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