Book chosen for Community Read is “Promise” about the Tupelo Tornado of ‘36

The days of the Literary Fest in New Albany will culminate with a Community Read of the book “Promise” by Minrose Gwin, a Tupelo native now living in Arizona, who based this book on the tragic Tupelo tornado of 1936.

The book starts “A few minutes after 9 p.m. on Palm Sunday, April 5, 1936,” and what follows is accounts of this tornado from many perspectives.  It is a compelling read to walk the streets of the devastated town and see through the eyes of the believable characters in the book.  She has woven the stories of white and black families living in Tupelo in a way that makes the reader need to learn what happens to the poor  babies that were torn from their mothers’ arms by the fierce winds of the tornado.

The tornado in reality killed more than 200 people and is still listed as one of the most deadly tornadoes in history.

Writer Minrose Gwin will be the guest speaker at the annual Literary Luncheon on Friday, September 24. She will speak following the presentations of the winners of the William Faulkner Literary Competition 2021.

The book can be purchased locally at the Union County Heritage Museum bookstore for $12.  For more information call the museum at 662-538-0014. It can also be checked out at the Union County Library.

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Jill Smith, Director

Union County Heritage Museum

114 Cleveland Street

New Albany,MS 38652