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The
Bondwoman’s Narrative by Hannah Crafts Rating: •• (Mildly Recommended) |
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A First Published in 2002, The
Bondwoman’s Narrative was written by Hannah Crafts in the 1850s. Thanks
to the research of Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who bought the
manuscript at auction, this appears to be the first novel written by a black
woman anywhere, and is the only known novel written by a female African
American slave. Gates’ lengthy introduction is as interesting as the novel
itself, which I found weary at times. Here’s an excerpt from chapter 2 of the
novel: “The clouds are
not apt to conform themselves to the wishes of man, yet once or twice in a
life-time the rain falls exactly when we wish it would, and it ceases raining
precisely at the right time. It was so at our place in Lindendale. The weather
had been rainy for many days. Mrs. Bry looked over her golden spectacles and
through the windows where the rain-drops pattered incessantly and assured me
that she had never known such a season since that very unfortunate year which
witnessed the loss of her husband’s India ship. And his consequent failure in
business; a circumstance that broke his heart and reduced her to the
extremity of accepting the situation of housekeeper. She hoped, however, that
the weather would improve before the arrival of the bridal party, but had no
expectation that it would. It was so apt to rain just when a clear sky was
most wanted, and would be best appreciated. The servants were of the same
opinion. Of course it would rain; it always did when they desired fair
weather – their holidays had been spoiled by rain no one could tell how often.
But if left off raining at last and Lindendale revived beneath the sheering
influences of wind and sunshine.” Readers with a strong interest in African
American literature will find The
Bondwoman’s Narrative as required reading. The rest of us may become
impatient at times with the style of writing. Steve Hopkins, July 17, 2002 |
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ã 2002 Hopkins and Company, LLC The
recommendation rating for this book appeared in the August 2002
issue of Executive
Times For
Reprint Permission, Contact: Hopkins
& Company, LLC • 723 North Kenilworth Avenue • Oak Park, IL 60302 E-mail: books@hopkinsandcompany.com |
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