Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta, by Richard Grant
Leave it to the English writer Richard Grant to capture the soul of the enigmatic and often disparaged Mississippi Delta. In Dispatches From Pluto, Grant takes us on a wild ride through one of America's most unique and misunderstood regions. On a whim, he trades his cramped New York apartment for a run-down plantation house in tiny Pluto, Mississippi, dragging his girlfriend Mariah along for the adventure.
Their new life is anything but boring. They battle snakes and gators, learn to hunt and grow their own food, and try to fit in with a cast of local characters so colorful they'd make a reality TV producer blush. And yes, even Morgan Freeman makes an appearance in this unlikely tale.
Grant digs deep into the heart of Delta culture, tackling thorny issues like race relations and economic decline with honesty and nuance. But it's not all heavy - there's plenty of humor and warmth as he describes the kindness and quirks of his new neighbors. Dispatches From Pluto is a funny, touching, and eye-opening journey into a part of the country that deserves to be better understood.
“One of my hopes in writing this book is to dissolve these clumsy old stereotypes, and illustrate my conviction that Mississippi is the best kept secret in the United States. Nowhere else is so poorly understood by outsiders, so unfairly maligned, so surreal and peculiar, so charming and maddening. Individually, collectively, and above all politically, Mississipians have a genius for charging after phantoms and lost causes. Nowhere else in the world have I met so many fine, generous, honorous people...”
Interesting Facts & Links:
Richard Grant is a British-American author and journalist known for his adventurous spirit and immersive approach to writing. Born in Malaysia, raised in London, and now based in the United States, Grant has led a nomadic life that greatly influences his work. He has written for numerous publications, including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, and Esquire. Grant's bibliography showcases his passion for exploration and cultural investigation. His debut book, American Nomads, delves into the lives of modern-day wanderers in the American West. God's Middle Finger recounts his dangerous journey through Mexico's Sierra Madre and is listed in our recommendations for the best adventure books. In Crazy River, Grant chronicles his expedition to find the source of the Nile in East Africa. His most recent work, The Deepest South of All, explores the unique history and culture of Natchez, Mississippi. Grant's writing is characterized by its blend of personal narrative, historical insight, and keen observations of human nature.
We listed Dispatches from Pluto as one of our top recommendations for those who love travel literature. See our full list of top picks here.
Kirkus TV Interview with Bestelling Author Richard Grant
See this personal interview from Kirkus TV with Richard Grant, where he personally describes his experience as “an appealing stew of fecklessness and curiosity, social psychology and social dysfunction, hope and despair.”
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