Customer Reviews

The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

These animal stories were banned in the late sixties from many schools and libraries for being racist (the storyteller in the book, Uncle Remus, is a slave and uses the "n" word). But it seems that it's now ok to like these stories again, and a good thing that is, because they are not only hilariously funny, they are also deeply revealing of the foibles of us humans. But perhaps most importantly, they are a treasure trove of African American folklore.

The stories combine folktale motifs brought from Africa by slaves with those of the native peoples of the south, particularly the Cherokee and Choctaw. Since both cultures had stories with animal characters, and specifically trickster rabbit characters, ethnologists have not been able to completely determine which elements are the African and which are the Native American. No matter, since the two storytelling traditions blend together seamlessly.

This edition is the most encyclopedic of all the Uncle Remus collections, and contains many different types of tales. There are origin tales, like how Mr. Dog originally came to live with Mr. Man and why Mr. Cricket has elbows on his legs. There are satirical tales, like the one in which Brer Rabbit convinces Brer Fox that it's the fashion in town for up-to-date foxes to have their heads cut off, which is information that Brer Fox, out of vanity, acts on in the way Brer Rabbit hopes. There are Trickster tales --mostly involving Brer Rabbit and Brer Tortoise (who is the only character who can out-trickster Rabbit). And there are tales of witches, magic, and superstition specific to Africa.

It's written in Southern African-American dialect of the 19th century, which can be tough going for some, but there is a glossary in the back (which I didn't realize was there for over a year) that helps. Also, the stories demand to be read out loud, being originally of an oral tradition, and I think you will find that reading them aloud while just following the given spelling will make the dialect more understandable than just reading it silently.

These stories are so wonderful that my teenaged sons, who think it's "babyish" to be read to, will still allow me to read Brer Rabbit tales to them. If you are looking for great Literature that's funny and easy to read, buy this book and have a really good time!

Joel Chandler Harris is all anyone needs to know to get a great introduction to and immersion in the folk tales and dialects of the southeastern US. The tales are charming, amusing, instructive. The presentation lives up to the standard set by the tales. Harris had an excellent ear for the rhythms and sounds, and although the text may be difficult to read at times, the effort is well rewarded. The book also contains a glossary of terms that may not be familiar to today's reader. If there is still difficulty, reading the text aloud will alleviate most of them.

Joel Chandler Harris brilliantly recorded the stories told on the southern plantation. Some of these stories have their origins in West Africa and were brought over (obviously) with the slave trade. But the stories are entertaining, laugh out loud funny, and naturalistic. Even though the animals in the stories(Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, etc.) are anthropomorphized, they also convey aspects of their essential natures in the wild. My husband reads me a story every night before we go to sleep. Unfortunately, because Harris was trying to write phonetically the dialect of the black slaves who were telling the stories, reading the stories takes a bit of practice. You have to get used to his spellings. For example, "bimeby" means "by and by." So, children may not be able to follow you if you read this outloud to them. A wonderful book which covers all the famous stories which you have heard of and never read yourself (Tar Baby, Rabbit in the Briar Patch) and also the not so famous stories. A real cultural education for Americans of every race and background. Highly recommended if you enjoy folk art and folk culture

This book is a good collection of Harris, Uncle Remus tales. Some of the posters have gone into the history of these tales, so no need to repeat that here. However, these tales are best taken in small doses, as Chandler's "Negro dialect" (as it was known at the time) is a bit much on the eyes of the modern reader (I'm an African-American from South Carolina myself and I had a lot of trouble trying to decipher some of this). But the illustrations are quite fitting and wonderful. So if you have a lot of patience and love some good stories, go for it. HOWEVER, I should add that Brer Rabbit fans should know that the majority of the Remus canon, from which these tales are taken, are mostly out of print and hard to find even on the internet (sadly, most of the few available editions of Harris' original Rabbit/Remus tales don't even have the wonderful illustrations of Frederick Church, A.B. Frost, and the others-reading these tales without these delightful drawings is like cornflakes without milk or Abbott without Costello). This adds to the value of this book, as it has the stories and illustrations that are not available elsewhere.

You may think you know these tales, but this book is worth a quiet, relaxed weeks-long read. Harris clearly loved and respected the people, cultures and stories. Some are not funny, and some hilarious. Many touch on metaphysical subjects without being obvious. Uncle Remus is almost like Jane Roberts' "Seth" entity: Centered, caring, wise, full of love and life, and leading the reader to find fresh ideas each time one looks again.

This is one of the best books ever written anywhere by anyone. Personally, I place it among the Taoist classics. Be that as it may, if you don't read it you'll never know what you're missing. If you're looking for crazy wisdom, it's all in here, but don't overlook the ridiculous either because this book will probably put you in stitches, and I ain't just whistlin' Dixie.

I could not disagree more with B. Tracy Hanson. My beloved grandpa of dear memory read these stories to me as a child on many a lazy summer afternoon in Florida. I think they are most appropriate for children, and a must for Southern children, black and white, because it is part of their Southern heritage and dialect. The stories and language are fascinating and captivating. I would lay there enthralled and enchanted, as my grandpa would read to me, each afternoon, during the summers I spent with him and my grandma. These stories and him reading them to me are some of my most treasured childhood memories!

Tracy, pictures!!?? The whole time my grandpa read me these stories, I never even knew there were pictures/drawings in the book. He just read, and I used my IMAGINATION. (Though, now that I do look at the original 1880's drawings, they are wonderful.) Language adapted!!!??? The language is a major element in making this anthology a treasure! JCH has preserved a Southern dialect, that is an integral part of the stories. These stories should be read out loud by a Southerner (who can handle the dialect, though even a Northerner could probably do a good job of "faking it", with some practice.) (Even though I speak proper, standard English, I can easily slip into this dialect, having heard it as a child.)

Oh, David, how sickeningly "politically correct". Violence?? What violence?? These are children's tales ...... Uncle Remus was telling them to a CHILD! Violence, ugh! You make it sound like the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". These stories are suitable for any child, unless you are a "bleeding-heart, pansy liberal".

King James version of the Bible, Milton's Paradise Lost, Madison Hamilton Jefferson, Homer's works, the Sayings of Confuscius, Aesop's Fables, Don Quixote, Walt Whitman's poems, Shakespeare, Tolkien's works, Victor Hugo --- and Joel Chandler Harris certainly belongs in this firmament. No literate American can claim to be fully educated without having heard and read aloud these stories.

This is a beautiful keepsake type edition of this book. Anyone who grew up reading Uncle Remus or having it read to them,as I did, would enjoy owning this wondeful book. What great memories it brings back!! Highly recommend this book for Uncle Remus lovers.

Nicely bound and printed with first edition illustrations. For perspective, I also recommend "Joel Chandler Harris: A Biography and Critical Study" by R. Bruce Bickley, Jr. (see my review).