Kentucky Bluegrass country

"The region of north-central Kentucky near Lexington is surrounded by romance and nostalgia. Also, it is filled with living traditions that have filtered through many generations that imbue contemporary times with a distinct style and identity." "Horse breeding, the cultures of tobacco and bourbon, the forms of architecture, the codes of the hunt, the traditions of gambling and dueling, convivial celebrations, regional foodways - all of these are ingredients in the folklife of the Inner Bluegrass Region that is the focus of this fascinating book." "From field research and library resources this study of the region's distinctive folklore looks both into the colorful past and into the living present for the dominant patterns of Bluegrass tradition that have persisted during Kentucky's vibrant history." "Although most folklife studies examine the less affluent segments of society, a striking feature of Kentucky Bluegrass Country is its attention to the folkways of the socially elite. The upper-class horse culture and the Middle-South gentry associated with it are unique in this region's remarkable folklore and are thus a central part of the enduring traditions in the Kentucky Bluegrass world."--Jacket.