The Conjure Woman (AmazonClassics Edition)

By: Charles W. Chesnutt

Narrated by: Korey Jackson

A northern white couple has relocated to the South to operate a vineyard on a North Carolina plantation. There, they pass their idle hours listening to the stories of one Uncle Julius, who has a deep knowledge of the land. These stories, however, are more than mere entertainments. They all have their time and place, and they offer not only a quiet commentary on the events of the day but also a deeper reckoning with the plantation’s disturbing past.

First published in 1899, this collection of stories introduced Charles W. Chesnutt to the public as a spinner of fantastical conjure tales. Exploring Southern folklore and supernaturalism and offering a subversive challenge to white authority, they are now regarded as preeminent works of African-American literature.

Revised edition: Previously published as The Conjure Woman, this edition of The Conjure Woman (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Public Domain (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What a treausue!

I am so happy I found this book! It is a trove of almost forgotten (and some forgotten) beliefs and stories that are told in chapters that could be stand alone short stories. In a way it was very reminiscent of listening to a Sherlock Holmes story or the like, where Dr. Watson is the man buying the vinyard and Uncle Julius is the much wiser counterpart that could be either a great manipulator, or a truly caring man (although it would seem like a mix of both). The storytelling was so good and the narrator was excellent! This was written by an African American man in 1890's about a white couple who moved to the South. Such amazing insight! This is a rare but true glimpse into the past from such perspective to really present the truth of a culture with a stiffled voice at the time. I am so happy I was fortunate enough to run across this in my search. This was a genuinely good and enjoyable novel and I definitely feel a bit more enlightened by it.