Subsoil

About the Book

  Published in 1924, Subsoil, by George F. Hummel, is a collection of short stories about  Southold- which Hummel called "Norwold"- a small village on the eastern tip of Long Island, and its residents. Praised by the New York Times in 1924 as a "definite, constructive piece of writing, remarkably free from preconceptions and misinterpretations... that stands definitely on the plane of the universal",  Subsoil   is a brutally frank, insightful, and entertaining look at the denizens of this isolated rural community of Long Island, circa. 1920. Hummel was the Garrison Keillor of his time , poking fun at conventions, and piercing the veneer of normalcy underlying life in the seemingly placid town. The book has been reissued, with an introduction by Harry Katz, who lives within 100 yards of Hummel's homestead, for the first time in 84 years.       

About the Author

George Hummel was born in Southold, Long Island, New York in 1882. He wrote eleven books, four of which were set in Southold, which he called"Norwold". He is Long Island's Long Lost Author, having written more about Long Island, and Southold, than any author, but to this day he is virtually unknown. His slide into oblivion, despite the good reviews his books received, can partly be explained by the progressive and scandalous-for the times-issues he addressed and the fact that some residents of Southold recognized themselves in his books. Also, he left no heirs to perpetuate his legacy. Harry Katz, who lives within 100 yards of the Hummel homestead, has written an introduction to Subsoil ,which offers more insight into the life and works of  the "bad boy" author of Southold, one of  Long Island's most prominent, yet forgotten, native sons.