I read in the papers recently, that author and teacher, John Barth, had passed on – probably to one of the many fictionalized landscapes and communities that he so colorfully described all around the Chesapeake.

Being a Chesapeake Bay native, Barth captured my interest at a young age. His early works, such as The Sot-weed Factor and Giles Goat Boy, kindled my love of reading. Once hooked, I continued to buy and read his books with salacious delight. I remember fondly Tidewater Tales, Somebody the Sailor, and Coming Soon. Today, even short references to his anecdotes get me laughing at the remembrance of fantastic sailing ships, Scheherazade, and bizarre and very personal micro-kayak races.

The most valuable lesson that I took away from reading his books was the importance of breathing life into characters in order to give readers a visceral reaction to a scene. Whenever readers compliment one of my works, as to how a certain passage affected them, I always tell them to read Barth. Although fictional, his work gives the reader a deep appreciation for what the common settler’s life might have been like in the past, warts and all.

A toast to John Barth. May your books always be available in print.

Respectfully,

Ned

Ned Tillman is the award-winning author of The Chesapeake Watershed, and author of the newly released Good Endeavour – a highly engaging historical novel about central Maryland.