001 - The Goophered Grapevine cover art

001 - The Goophered Grapevine

001 - The Goophered Grapevine

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 Published in 1899 by Houghton Mifflin, The Conjure Woman marks Charles W. Chesnutts debut, presenting a captivating collection of seven short stories set in Patesville (Fayetteville), North Carolina. Drawing from local color traditions and rich dialect, Chesnutts tales delve into the realm of conjuring, a form of magic rooted in African hoodoo, while firmly rejecting the romanticized portrayals of slave life and the Old South. Though echoing the influences of Joel Chandler Harriss beloved Uncle Remus stories and Thomas Nelson Pages plantation fiction, The Conjure Woman intentionally diverges from these narratives, offering a sharp critique of pre- and post-Civil War race relations. The stories are framed by John, a white carpetbagger who relocates south to tend to his ailing wife Annie and establish a grape vineyard. While he views the South through a lens of nostalgia, Uncle Julius McAdoo, the ex-slave and cunning trickster, provides a contrasting perspective filled with wit and insight. His riveting accounts include Aun Peggys conjure spells in Mars Jeemss Nightmare, Po Sandy, Sis Beckys Pickaninny, and Hot Foot Hannibal, along with the narratives of free black conjure men in The Conjurers Revenge and The Gray Wolfs Hant. These conjure tales unveil instances of black resistance against white oppression and showcase calculated acts of revenge, making for a powerful and thought-provoking read. (Introduction provided by Documenting the American South)
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