The West Virginia University Press is planning the release of Blackwater Chronicle, an 1853 travel diary, written by Philip Pendleton Kennedy.

Blackwater Chronicle is the story of five men who venture into the Canaan Valley before the Civil War. As they move closer to the yet uninhabited Canaan, these men, unaccustomed to rugged outdoor life, chronicle their struggle with nature, hunger and the undeveloped terrain. The five travelers begin their journey in Winchester, Va. and travel through Romney on their way to the unexplored Blackwater River. Kennedy chronicles not only the hardship experienced as a result of the rugged terrain, but also the magnificent beauty of the landscape.

This new edition of Blackwater Chronicle is volume two in the series West Virginia and Appalachia.

WVU English Professor Timothy Sweet provides an introduction and edits the second edition. He also examines both the literary and ecological value of the text.

In his introduction, Sweet shows Blackwater Chronicle to be an important contribution to the historical understanding of West Virginia. The dialogue captures the satire and spoken forms of the periods, but perhaps even more importantly, Sweet says the reader is confronted with descriptions of the pure, untouched land through which flows the untamed Blackwater River so plentifully teaming with trout that the men can catch literally hundreds in one day.

Kennedy, who was deeply moved by his experiences on the trip, made these observations of the bountiful, unblemished land. He also recognized the importance of preserving them in pristine condition, according to Sweet. He says this realization, combined with the literary satire and comedy, make Blackwater Chronicle both an enjoyable read and a significant piece of West Virginia literature.

“This historical work demonstrates the Presss commitment to the people and history of West Virginia,”said Patrick Conner, director of the WVU Press.