Moonshine in Marshall, Sunday at the FBI

The ever-spirited French Broad Institute in Marshall has a number of events lined up for July at its “church building across the street from the firehouse,” or 68 N. Main St. in Marshall. We’ll let you know what’s afoot as the details come in.

For now, the FBI offers a glimpse into spirits of a different order. Charles D. Thompson Jr., the curriculum and education director at the Center for Documentary Studies and a lecturer of cultural anthropology at Duke University, will discuss his latest book, Spirits of Just Men: Mountaineers, Liquor Bosses and Lawmen in the Moonshine Capital of the World, on Sunday, July 17, at 3 p.m. at the FBI.

According to the website for University of Illinois Press, the book’s publisher, Spirits draws “from extensive oral histories and local archival material [and] illustrates how the moonshine trade was a rational and savvy choice for struggling farmers and community members during the Great Depression.”

While it’s not clear if there will be moonshine on hand at the event, there will be some bluegrass music by Seth Rhinehart and friends. Admission is $5. For more information, visit http://avl.mx/3x.

(Did you know that there is a new moonshine distiller in Asheville? Of course you do, because you’ve already read the Food feature in this week’s Xpress.)

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