In 1971, the esteemed novelist and critic Joyce Carol Oates praised Harriette Arnow's The Dollmaker as "our most unpretentious American masterpiece." This sentiment resonates with many readers who have delved into Arnow's poignant portrayal of American life. Despite the acclaim, Arnow has not received the recognition she deserves. Her novel was in contention for the Pulitzer Prize but was overshadowed by William Faulkner’s A Fable in 1954. Nevertheless, The Dollmaker found renewed life in 1984 when it was adapted into a television film featuring Jane Fonda.

Arnow's roots in Appalachia and her focus on its people and culture may have contributed to her being underestimated by the broader literary community. This regional perspective, however, offers a unique lens through which to explore American identity—what Oates refers to as “our contemporary ancestors.” Arnow's storytelling in The Dollmaker has inspired a new wave of writers, including Gurney Norman, whose novel Divine Right’s Trip was published in 1972, and Jim Wayne Miller with his poetry collection The Mountains Have Come Closer in 1980. These authors have followed in Arnow's footsteps, drawing on Appalachian themes to enrich American literature with their distinctive voices.