The wonderful works of Welty at Scoville Library

SALISBURY — With temperatures near zero and ice everywhere, this is a perfect time to sit indoors and read — and especially to read tales of life in the American South. 

Conveniently, popular literature teacher Mark Scarbrough is about to commence a multi-week exploration at the Scoville Library of the short stories of Eudora Welty, considered one of the greatest (and certainly one of the most enjoyable) American writers. 

She was born in 1909 in Jackson, Miss., and lived until 2001, and during that time wrote dozens of gemlike stories that delve not just into the South and Southern culture but into the human psyche. Her stories are quirky, old-fashioned and delicious, the literary equivalent of an heirloom tomato.

Scarbrough describes Welty’s work as reminiscent of the writing of Henry James. But where James’ works are novels and novellas, Welty wrote what are almost short sketches. They feel almost like a slice of a film script, with rich descriptions that set a scene for the reader and then delve into moments of unexpected and always fascinating interaction between her characters.

You can read her work quickly, Scarbrough said; but you probably shouldn’t. He recommends reading one story in a single sitting  (the course meets weekly and roughly four stories are on the syllabus each week). 

Counterintuitively, he said, when reading Welty he finds that the more he reads of her and the more comfortable he gets with her “voice” and rhythm, the more slowly he reads.

“You want more of it,” he explained. “They don’t go faster, I get more hooked by it.”

Scarbrough, a former English teacher at Saint Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, is best known as the author of a series of hugely successful cookbooks with his partner, Bruce Weinstein (their newest title is “The Great Pressure Cooker Cookbook,” due out Feb. 17).

He leads book groups and teaches book classes at the Norfolk Library, the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, the Taconic Learning Center and the Scoville Memorial Library.

At his most recent class, delving into Chaucer in a Taconic Learning Center Class, he said there were more than 100 students at each session — which made it nearly impossible to have discussions about the text. 

He’s hoping for a more intimate, discussion-based series of classes at the Scoville Memorial Library sessions, which begin on Jan. 28 and will be held weekly on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

The room at the back of the library building where the classes will be held will open a little before 10 a.m., so students can come in and get settled. There is no fee and registration is not required, but attendance is first-come, first-served. Not everyone who attends the first class will attend later classes, so anyone who can’t fit in for the first session shouldn’t be discouraged and should try later sessions. The course syllabus is at the library, as are copies of the paperbound collection of stories that will be used for the class.

On the cover of that edition is a photograph taken by Welty, who was also an accomplished photographer.

“I intend to start the class with some of her photographs,” Scarbrough said. “She was quite the photographer, and worked as a PR person for the WPA. I want to start there because I think you have to understand her as a photographer before you see her as a storyteller. You have to see that eye, the clarity of her eye, and the way she isn’t as interested in large events but is very interested in small, quiet events. 

“Her stories often follow the enigma at the base of human action. It’s like a photograph; you can document what the person is thinking but you’re locked out of what their motivation was. You’re left with mood rather than theme.”

Although Welty is known as a witty, funny writer, there is always a dark note running through her tales, especially, Scarbrough said, in her later work. 

“They’re not exactly ominous. But there is a deep bass note running underneath.”

For the reading list, go to www.docs.google.com/document/d/1Wffl9oi_ZC61e2ETLUhpoKo-aeaakS1cj3XUcb5r....

To learn more about Scarbrough, go to www.bruceandmark.com.

Make soap and lip balm Feb. 14

SALISBURY — On Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 to 11 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., Noble Horizons will host two workshops in which participants will make and take home an organic herb-infused soap bar and two naturally infused organic lip balms.

Participants will melt glycerin, add fragrance and color (if desired) with organic herbs and plants grown by Vicki Harness, owner of Perry Hill Farm in Millbrook.

The class is $15 per person. Register at www.noblehorizons.org or 860-435-9851, ext. 190.