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Book details
  • Genre:BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
  • SubGenre:Personal Memoirs
  • Language:English
  • Pages:214
  • eBook ISBN:9781543991451
  • Paperback ISBN:9781543991444

Letters to Chloe

by David Griffith

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Overview

Real-life stories of a grandfather to his granddaughter recount events of his youth that were amusing, life-changing, adventurous, and often dangerous. They were not your typical experiences, unless falling down mountains, spending nights in jails, and smuggling goods across Europe were part of your growing up. The settings are the South of the 1950's and Chicago, Europe, and the United States national parks in the 1960's. The early letters not only recount the author's experiences but reflect his rejection of racism and other values prevalent in Southern society at the time. Contact with unusual or different people and places influenced his later life and values. In his final letter, he comes full circle, once again experiencing the country lifestyle of his youth and confirming its place in his heart.

Description

This memoir is reminiscent of experiences many mid-century Southerners had as they encountered the limitations of their birthplace. Some left home to find a more open society in the North or West or even overseas. David's stories are not just about escaping the confinements of Southern society, but about further adventures and experiences in the wider world.  His openness to whatever he encountered, whether on the South Side of Chicago, in the Rocky Mountains, or hitchhiking in Europe, are what make the stories so unusual. His adventurous spirit finds subjects of wonder and wisdom wherever he travels, and his reflections provide a commentary on life in the 50's and 60's.  He hopes his grandkids will connect with the risks of exploration and vicariously enjoy the adventures along the way.  He hopes that the reader will do so also.

About the author

David Griffith was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in Belle Meade, Tennessee. The years in the South became the basis of the early stories, whereas his inevitable departure for college in Chicago was the foundation of others. The Chicago stories represent a lifting of the burden he felt from his days in the South, where he never felt comfortable. The college years were a happy time when he enjoyed the intellectual life of a major university alive with an insistence on critical thinking. During this period of growth, he spent his summers in Wyoming, working there for seven years, while enjoying the beauty of the environment. In contrast, the year he spent hitchhiking around Europe was a time of totally different adventures and unusual experiences with people in several countries.  This formative journey also influenced his view of the world and much of his future life.  After attending the university, David married a fellow student, and they had two children. He began his career working at several premier consulting firms and eventually founded his own successful nationwide company, David M. Griffith and Associates.  At the same time, he was a professor and lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a retired businessman, he spent years teaching comparative religion and philosophy at the Hodges University Center for Continuing Education in Naples, Florida. He dedicates his manuscript to his beloved grandchildren.