Sad news:

After a vibrant life, Joe Bageant died yesterday following a four-month struggle with cancer. He was 64. Joe is survived by his wife, Barbara, his three children, Timothy, Patrick and Elizabeth, and thousands of friends and admirers. He is also survived by his work and ideas.

According to Joe's wishes, he will be cremated. His family will hold a private memorial service.

Nice obit from the Hartford Courant:

I was a latecomer to Joe Bageant's fan base. I first stumbled across him after finding "Deer Hunting With Jesus: Dispatches From America's Class War."

(With a title like that, of course I was going to read the book. I am a huge fan of books whose titles put Jesus where you'd least expect him.)

In a word? The book was brilliant. Better than any one I've ever read, Bageant explained why those of us who grew up far from those proverbial silver spoons continue to vote against our own best interests. I was so moved that I did something I never do. I sent the author an email, just to let him know how much I appreciated his work.

He wrote back, and it wasn't one of those pat thank-you-for-taking-the-time notes. He wrote a full-fledged missive in which he discussed my email, and asked me enough questions that I thought it was OK if I fired off another email.

I don't remember how many emails we exchanged, but I think somewhere in there, he told me to call him, so I did, and we had a kind of whittle-and-spit exchange you'd expect from two smart-mouthed hillbillies. And when we hung up, he said, "Now don't be a stranger."

I loved his next book, "Rainbow Pie: A Redneck Memoir" every bit as much as "Deer Hunting," and we exchanged a few emails over that one, too.

I am under no delusion that Joe treated me special. I think he treated all his readers that way. He took the time, is what I'm saying, and I still don't know how he had the energy to do that. I found myself linking to his work -- articles, essays, and the like -- on this blog, and another blog I used to have. He made sense to me.

Cancer got Joe Bageant yesterday. Sharon, who is also a fan, sent me the notice, and when I read it, I cussed out loud. I think we need writers like Joe Bageant, maybe now more than ever. I am going to miss him.