The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton — Book Information

Title: The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton
Author: Neal Hutcheson
Publisher/Imprint: Reliable Archetype
Pub date: April 2021
Page count: 240
Binding: Hardcover
Illustrated: 83 color photos / illustrations
Price: $45
ISBN: 978-0-578-65414-0

Short description:
A comprehensive volume of photos, essays, and interviews documenting the true story of a modern folk hero. Marvin 'Popcorn' Sutton was raised in a Southern Appalachian community steeped in tradition. He learned to make moonshine at an early age, like his father and grandfather before him, and continued to pursue the perfection of the craft throughout his life. At the same time, he honed a natural talent for performance and came to fill not only the role but also the appearance of the master moonshiners he had known as a child. Ultimately appearing in documentaries, television shows, and heritage events, he brought the traditional craft of a secret brotherhood into the light. Yet, he never compromised and continued to make and distribute outlaw liquor in increasing quantities, forcing his story to its inevitable end. Now remembered as a folk hero who would literally live free or die, The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton captures the true story of the man behind the myth in a celebration of craft, heritage, and irrepressible character.

Author bio:
NEAL HUTCHESON is an award-winning filmmaker with a large body of work documenting heritage in transition. The recipient of three Emmys for cultural documentaries, a North Carolina Artist Fellowship, the Brown-Hudson Folklore Award, and other honors, the Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton is Hutcheson’s first published work. The book documents the life and legacy of Marvin 'Popcorn' Sutton, who was not only a close friend but also the subject of Hutcheson's documentary The Last One (2009), and contextualizes the subject in terms of the history and cultural development of Appalachia and the position of moonshine in American culture.