Religion and Coming of Age in Olive Ann Burns’ Novel, Cold Sassy Tree E

Religion and Coming of Age in Olive Ann Burns Novel, Cold pert Tree In the humiliated southern town of Cold wise, Georgia, at the turn of the twentieth century, teenage boys had to grow up fast. They were not in any way sheltered from the daily activities of the town. This was especially true for fourteen year old Will Tweedy. Olive Ann Burns first, and only completed novel, Cold Sassy Tree, tells of young Wills coming-of-age. His experiences with religion, progress, and death in Cold Sassy escorted him along the path to manhood.During the early 1900s, the south was full of religious fervor. Most small communities were based around two or three church families. Cold Sassy Tree, which is a recounting of Wills memories, contains many references to religion and God. Rucker Blakeslee,...