Several years ago, decided to write a traditional memoir. He soon realized, however, that his family was anything but traditional. His new book, 鈥淩ed Brick, Black Mountain, White Clay鈥� (Penguin/2012), is part memoir, part history, part archeology.
It tells the stories of his ancestors鈥� work as bricklayers, his father鈥檚 escape from Nazi Germany and his great aunt and uncle鈥檚 pivotal role in the founding of Black Mountain College. Chris Benfey is a Professor of English at Mount Holyoke College. He joins Host Frank Stasio to discuss his family鈥檚 North Carolina stories.
