A stunning short story collection that takes the reader into the heart
of the Creole community in late-nineteenth-century New Orleans, from a
key poet and journalist of the Harlem Renaissance--featuring an
introduction by Danielle Evans, the award-winning author of The Office
of Historical Corrections
"[Dunbar-Nelson]'s airy, easy eloquence is a pleasure."--The New York
Times
This vivid collection transports readers to New Orleans, from the
delights of Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street, to the quiet Bayou where
lovers meet, and to fish fries on the shore of the Mississippi Sound.
Alice Dunbar-Nelson focuses the struggles and joys of the Creole
community in these intimate stories featuring unforgettable characters.
In the title story, Manuela goes to the Wizened One for a charm when her
lover strays; in "Little Miss Sophie," a young woman goes to extreme
lengths to get back a ring she pawned; in "M'sieu Fortier's Violin," a
talented musician finds himself at a loss when his greatest passion is
taken away; and in "The Fisherman of Pass Christian," Annette, an
aspiring opera singer, falls in love with a beautiful fisherman who has
a secret. Together these stories provide a unique window into the world
of everyday Creole Louisianians.
This edition also features a selection of stories from Dunbar-Nelson's
first collection, Violets and Other Tales, which beautifully
compliments The Goodness of St. Rocque, making it the essential text
for readers looking to discover this underappreciated writer.
The Modern Library Torchbearers series features women who wrote on
their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of
resistance.
