The storyteller, Jackson Tel, takes us on a rambling journey through the curious history of the Mann Family of Maryland from colonial times through the Twentieth Century. The stories are concoctions of history and fiction blended with cupfuls of comedy, ample amounts of adventure, a measure of mystery, and a pinch of the paranormal, all topped with a relish of romance. They feature a hodgepodge of characters plucked, kicking, and screaming out of the historical and cultural mixing pot of Mid-Atlantic America.
Be Forewarned
The stories about the Mann family begin in the early 1700s and culminate at the turn of the 21st Century. The author, Jackson Tel, twists, turns, and wraps the storylines around each other like sailors' knots until they are thoroughly intertwined. So you will encounter many perplexing intersections of the past with the present and future. And don't be surprised to meet the occasional ghost or someone reborn multiple generations apart because spirits and past lives are a reality in the Chestnut Point Stories.
The Truth be Told
The storyteller's peregrinations are full of anecdotes, vignettes, narratives, and the occasional canard. Occasionally, a person from the time depicted a story insists that Jackson set the factual record straight. He always assures them, "Alright, okay, have it your way!"… until the next time, his imagination leads to a conjectural crossroad, ducks down an intriguing side alley, or is drawn into an irresistible wayside attraction. Then, you may be lured off the straight and narrow again for who knows how long.