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the LITERARY HILL A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events by Karen Lyon the area, rotating crops and replenishing soil depleted by tobacco, and wars also changed the landscape of the county. During the Civil War, its bounty was either “requisitioned or plundered, depending on your sympathies,” and the county helped to feed a hungry nation during both World Wars. As jobs began to shift from farms to factories to the federal government in the 20th century, the county became more suburban, but the creation in 1980 Claudia Kousoulas and Ellen of the Agricultural Reserve enLeTourneau, shown here at the sured that 93,000 acres would 2019 Literary Hill BookFest, are remain productive farmland. co-authors of “A Culinary History of Montgomery County.” The authors acknowledge that the Reserve “may look like underuse so close to the national Planting, Growing, Harvest, Rest capital,” but contend that it “is part of an economic, Is there anything that better captures the character cultural and natural ecosystem. Its processes,” they of an area than how its people produce, prepare, and write, “are an immediate reminder that nature and life share food? Claudia Kousoulas and Ellen Letourneau have seasons—planting, growing harvest, rest.” don’t think so. “Food and foodways,” they write, “reThoroughly researched and replete with firstflect culture at nearly every level: social life, technolohand accounts, “A Culinary Hisgy, economy, environment and more.” tory” includes mouthwatering In their new book, “A Culinary History of Montmenus as well as recipes for such gomery County,” the co-authors focus on the large, tempting specialties as boatman’s fertile chunk of Maryland that today provides us with bean soup, beaten biscuits, Maryfresh produce, dairy products, and more. From the land corn cakes, and creamed turearly Native American tribes, whose healthful triad of key with mushrooms. Excerpts corn, beans, and squash was adapted by European from period cookbooks and phosettlers, to the highly successful chain of Hot Shoptographs—both archival and of pes that dotted the county in more recent times, the recent vintage by George Koustories they tell shine a light on generations of foodsoulas—round out the picture of related history in this bountiful area. a region rich in both history and One critical feature of the county was the C&O delicious food offerings. Canal, which greatly enhanced the region’s economy, Claudia Kousoulas is a expanding the shipping of its products and drawing freelance writer and editor who city dwellers in need of recreation to the area. This inworked as a land-use planner in flux of visitors led to the establishment of hospitable Montgomery County for more stops such as Normandie Farms and the Cabin John than 20 years. Ellen Letourneau Bridge Hotel, renowned for its Maryland fried chickis a fiber artist, baker, and event en. Quakers brought their knowledge of agriculture to 74 H HILLRAG.COM
planner. They are also co-authors of “Bread and Beauty: A Year in Montgomery Country’s Agricultural Reserve.”
Rebels With a Cause DC tour guide Tony Spadafora clearly has a soft spot for people who don’t fit the mold, especially those who are able to turn their nonconformity into positive action. In “Twelve Rebels Hidden in Washington DC,” he leads readers to a dozen local sites honoring such souls, from pioneering educator Mary McLeod Bethune, whose statue stands in Lincoln Park, to Army veteran Leonard Matlovich, whose tombstone in Congressional Cemetery honors this hero of the 1970s gay rights movement. Spadafora spotlights DC’s tributes to Eleanor Roosevelt, who broke with tradition to fight for the poor and against segregation; Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who helped America win the Revolutionary War and then used his bonus to purchase freedom for enslaved Americans; and A. Philip Randolph, who established the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first and most influential African American labor union in the country. He also includes homeless advocate Mitch Snyder, labor organizer Samuel Gompers, and Simón Bolívar, who fought for South American
Tour guide Tony Spadafora leads readers to sites honoring nonconformists in “Twelve Rebels Hidden in Washington DC.”
