The heart-warming saga of a slave's flight to freedom, Dessa Rosa provides a rich, compelling story of a pregnant slave condemned to die for a murderous act of rebellion. Film rights optioned. HC: Morrow.
Dessa Rose (P.S.)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle.
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
In her first novel, poet/critic Williams depicts the story of runaway slave Dessa Rose and a white woman who harbors runaways on her isolated farm. Dessa's story begins when she attacks the master who has killed her husband. Sold to a slave trader from whom she and some companions escape, Dessa is captured and interviewed by a man writing a book on slave rebellions. Her companions free her and, hiding on Miss Rufel's farm, they plot their escape to the West. Dessa's evolving relationship with Miss Rufel speaks volumes about the complex feelings between white and black women then and now. Unfortunately, the initial exposition, alternating between the interviewer and Dessa's dazed flashbacks, is slow-moving and confusing, giving no hint of the richness to come. Rewarding for the persistent reader. Janet Boyarin Blundell, M.L.S., Brookdale Community Coll., Lincroft, N.J.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“Extraordinary. . . . These two women achieve one of the most intricate and ambivalent relationships in contemporary fiction.” (Los Angeles Times )
“Having this treasure of a book available again for new and more readers is not only necessary, it is imperative.” (Toni Morrison )
“A deep, rich, compelling work. . . . I am astonished, moved, and delighted with the language, the thought, the obvious collaboration of the ancestors and the love I read on these pages.” (Alice Walker )
“Absorbing…Deeply true and brilliantly imagined.” (Newsday )
“Destined to become a modern classic.” (Chicago Tribune )
“A powerful story. . . . Emotionally affecting and totally unforgettable.” (New York Times ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
“Having this treasure of a book available again for new and more readers is not only necessary, it is imperative.” (Toni Morrison )
“A deep, rich, compelling work. . . . I am astonished, moved, and delighted with the language, the thought, the obvious collaboration of the ancestors and the love I read on these pages.” (Alice Walker )
“Absorbing…Deeply true and brilliantly imagined.” (Newsday )
“Destined to become a modern classic.” (Chicago Tribune )
“A powerful story. . . . Emotionally affecting and totally unforgettable.” (New York Times ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A memorable view of slavery,
By A Customer
This review is from: Dessa Rose (Paperback)
Williams has taken us into the mind and soul of a slave and recreated Dessa's experience with a searing feeling of authenticity. This is a notable piece of fiction; it should be part of history courses studying slavery.
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartfelt look into slave life......,
By A Customer
This review is from: Dessa Rose: A Novel (Paperback)
I recently picked up an old copy of Dessa Rose and began to read. Although I found it slow in the very beginning, it became one of the few books I can truely say I couldn't put down. Anyone that is interested in slavery should read this book. It is an eye opener for sure.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A nice surprise,
By Mimi "Mimi" (Atlanta, Ga) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dessa Rose: A Novel (Paperback)
I purchased Dessa Rose as resource for my Thesis work. I was told that it was a fictional account of a meeting between a real slave woman and white abolitionist. It was one of many resources, but it was the most surprising. I did not know what to expect. In the end, I was pleased. I recommended that the book be added to the syllabi for our Black Women Writer's Course next Fall.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence:
"... Was I white, I might woulda fainted when Emmalina told me Masa done gone upside Kaine head, nelly bout kilt him iff'n he wa'n't dead already. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
other darkies Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Miz Lady, Miz Ruint, Aunt Lefonia, Miz Lorraine, Uncle Joel, Boss Smith, Carrie Mae, Miz Rufel, Mamma Hattie, Young Mistress, Dry Fork, Master Wilson, Miss Janet, Miz Carlisle, Council Bluffs, Aunt Chole, Ives Creek, Ruth Elizabeth, Uncle Carson, Dessa Rose, Haley's Landing, Little Missy, Little Simpson, Master Vaugham, Miz Tel New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
"... Was I white, I might woulda fainted when Emmalina told me Masa done gone upside Kaine head, nelly bout kilt him iff'n he wa'n't dead already. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
other darkies Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Miz Lady, Miz Ruint, Aunt Lefonia, Miz Lorraine, Uncle Joel, Boss Smith, Carrie Mae, Miz Rufel, Mamma Hattie, Young Mistress, Dry Fork, Master Wilson, Miss Janet, Miz Carlisle, Council Bluffs, Aunt Chole, Ives Creek, Ruth Elizabeth, Uncle Carson, Dessa Rose, Haley's Landing, Little Missy, Little Simpson, Master Vaugham, Miz Tel New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 6
books:
See all 6 books this book cites
100
books
cite this book:
See all 100 books citing this book
- Working Cotton by Sherley Anne Williams in Back Matter
- American Negro Slave Revolts by Herbert Aptheker in Front Matter
- South Carolina (His The new enchantment of America) by John Allan Carpenter on page 28
- The Peacock Poems (Wesleyan Poetry Series) by Sherley Anne Williams in Back Matter
- Call and Response Reprint Paperback [With CDROM] by Hill in Back Matter
See all 6 books this book cites
- The Freedom to Remember: Narrative, Slavery, and Gender in Contemporary Black Women's Fiction by Angelyn Mitchell on 29 pages
- Black Women Writers and the American Neo-Slave Narrative: Femininity Unfettered (Contributions in Afro-American and African Studies: Contemporary Black Poets) by Elizabeth A. Beaulieu on 20 pages
- Remembering the Past in Contemporary African American Fiction by Keith Byerman on 14 pages
- Deep Talk: Reading African-American Literary Names by Debra Walker King on 13 pages
- The Daughter's Return: African-American and Caribbean Women's Fictions of History by Caroline Rody on 13 pages
See all 100 books citing this book
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
