High John the Conqueror

By: John Wilson

Narrated by: Peter Jay Fernandez

First printed in 1948, High John the Conqueror, John W. Wilson’s only published book, was considered a breakthrough novel for its attention to racism, sexual politics, and agribusiness. It has since become a classic depiction of the arduous life and work of African American cotton farmers in Southeast Texas during the 1940s.

The Great Depression continues to sweep across the land where the Brazos and Navasota rivers meet, taking with it the hope of many poor black farmers. One of these farmers, young Cleveland Webster, labors on property belonging to rich white man John Cheney. He must watch helplessly as the powerful “Mr. John” forecloses on farm after farm, including his parents’, and turns his attention to Ruby Lee, Cleveland’s wife. Although Cleveland is full of rage and despair, the promise of rapprochement and triumph seems almost within reach. An emotional reading by acclaimed narrator Peter J. Fernandez is the perfect addition to this thought-provoking novel.

©1998 John W. Wilson (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“Mr. Wilson seems to have grasped the same sense of slowmoving inevitable force, beyond man himself, that can so easily lift or destroy him.” ( New York Times Book Review)

Good book confusing title

I enjoyed the book but thought it would speak towards High John the Conqueror the folk saint. Worth the listen but if you are a spiritual person looking for information on High John the Conqueror it’s not here. They mentioned the root once and even then no information on the folk saint .