The Complete Stories of Paul Laurence Dunbar [Hardcover]

Gene Andrew Jarrett (Author), Thomas Lewis Morgan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2006

The son of former slaves, Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the most prominent and publicly recognized figures in American literature at the turn of the twentieth century. Thirty-three years old at the time of his death in 1906, he had published four novels, four collections of short stories, and fourteen books of poetry, not to mention numerous songs, plays, and essays in newspapers and magazines around the world. In the century following his death, Dunbar slipped into relative obscurity, remembered mainly for his dialect poetry or as a footnote to other more canonical figures from the period. The Complete Stories of Paul Laurence Dunbar showcases his gifts as a writer of short fiction and provides key insights into the tensions and themes of Dunbar's literary achievement. Through examining the 104 stories written by Dunbar between 1890 and 1905, readers will be able to better understand Dunbar's specific attempts to maintain his artistic integrity while struggling with America's racist stereotypes. His work interrogated the color-line that informed American life and dictated his role as an artist in American letters. Editors Gene Jarrett and Thomas Morgan identify major themes and implications in Dunbar's work. Available in one convenient, comprehensive, and definitive volume for the first time, The Complete Stories of Paul Laurence Dunbar illustrates the complexity of his literary life and legacy. ABOUT THE EDITORS---Gene Jarrett is an assistant professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is co-editor (with Henry Louis Gates Jr.) of a forthcoming anthology, New Negro Criticism: Essays on Race, Representation, and African American Culture.Thomas Morgan is a lecturer at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research and teaching interests focus on critical race theory in late-nineteenth century American and African American literature, specifically as it applies to the politics of narrative form.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* One hundred years after the death of Dunbar, he is most remembered for his poem "We Wear the Mask," evoking the balance required of blacks to survive and prosper in nineteenth-century America. This collection of 103 of Dunbar's short stories written between 1890 and 1905, including well-known pieces and many that have gone out of print, allows readers to see how the first African American writer to enjoy huge success evolved as a writer. The son of former slaves, Dunbar balanced the desire for a commercially successful career as a writer and the desire to tackle racial stereotypes. The first story he sold was a western tale with all white characters, part of his attempts to write outside of race issues. This collection also includes powerful stories of lynching, politics, religion, and social and interracial relationships--the broad spectrum of black life in America. In the introduction, the editors place Dunbar in the context of other contemporary writers, including Mark Twain and Charles Chestnutt, writers of sharp social commentary and possessing an adroit eye for human foibles. This is a valuable collection for readers interested in Dunbar and his place in African American and American literature. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

The son of former slaves, Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the most prominent and publicly recognized figures in American literature at the turn of the twentieth century. Thirty-three years old at the time of his death in 1906, he had published four novels, four collections of short stories, and fourteen books of poetry, not to mention numerous songs, plays, and essays in newspapers and magazines around the world. THE EDITORS---Gene Jarrett is an assistant professor of English at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is co-editor (with Henry Louis Gates Jr.) of a forthcoming anthology, New Negro Criticism: Essays on Race, Representation, and African American Culture. Thomas Morgan is a lecturer at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research and teaching interests focus on critical race theory in late-nineteenth century American and African American literature, specifically as it applies to the politics of narrative form.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Ohio University Press (February 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821416448
• ISBN-13: 978-0821416440
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,704,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Literary Masterpiece!!, August 13, 2006

By 

Cheryl R. Leigh (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Stories of Paul Laurence Dunbar (Hardcover)

While reading these stories I'm reminded of former slave and loyal retainer to Samuel L. Clemens (Ms. Mary Ann Cord) whose "True Story..." of her enslavement launched Mark Twain into national prominence bringing the Northeastern literary establishment to its knees for its beauty and pathos. This collection, written by the son of former slaves is equally moving and belongs to a great American 19th c. literary tradition that includes (though is not limited to) Joel Chandler Harris, George Washington Cable, Grace King, Kate Chopin and Charles W. Chesnutt.

Kudos to the editors!!