In Old Plantation Days


Read by Jim Locke

(3.2 stars; 4 reviews)

With this collection of short stories, Dunbar sought to draw on the success of his dialect poems by recreating and portraying the southern plantation during slavery. The stories focus on the stereotypical portrait of slaves as obedient workers happy to spend their lives in service of their benevolent owner. His attempt to find success was only partially realized, as his stories drew not only criticism but, in some cases, anger at their very stereotypical nature. The book itself, however, proved to be more lucrative than previous fiction works had been for the author. (Summary by Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University) (5 hr 46 min)

Chapters

Aunt Tempe's Triumph 12:57 Read by Jim Locke
Aunt Tempe's Revenge 14:52 Read by Jim Locke
The Walls of Jericho 14:51 Read by Jim Locke
How Brother Parker Fell from Grace 14:04 Read by Jim Locke
The Trousers 12:49 Read by Jim Locke
The Last Fiddling of Mordaunt's Jim 14:52 Read by Jim Locke
A Supper by Proxy 14:35 Read by Jim Locke
The Trouble about Sophiny 12:18 Read by Jim Locke
Mr. Groby's Slippery Gift 12:24 Read by Jim Locke
Ash-Cake Hannah and Her Ben 13:58 Read by Jim Locke
Dizzy-Headed Dick 11:57 Read by Jim Locke
The Conjuring Contest 12:43 Read by Jim Locke
Dandy Jim's Conjure Scare 11:42 Read by Jim Locke
The Memory of Martha 14:04 Read by Jim Locke
Who Stands for the Gods 10:46 Read by Jim Locke
A Lady Slipper 14:28 Read by Jim Locke
A Blessed Deceit 13:58 Read by Jim Locke
The Brief Cure of Aunt Fanny 15:09 Read by Jim Locke
The Stanton Coachman 12:10 Read by Jim Locke
The Easter Wedding 10:32 Read by Jim Locke
The Finding of Martha 25:28 Read by Jim Locke
The Defection of Maria Ann Gibbs 15:33 Read by Jim Locke
The Judgment of Paris 16:01 Read by Jim Locke
Silent Sam'el 12:27 Read by Jim Locke
The Way of a Woman 11:37 Read by Jim Locke

Reviews

could have had a better reader


(2 stars)

I give the reader credit for volunteering, but he reads in a dreadful monotone, varied occasionally by a sing song, and he stumbled and bumbled with the dialect so that at times what he was reading was unintelligible. These stories are a glimpse into how white folk viewed the lives of their slaves, but listening to this reader was so difficult that I gave up.

Unbearable


(1 stars)

I cannot comment on the content, as I never was able to listen to an appreciable amount of it; the reason - the reader. Bless him for volunteering, but he is positively unbearable to listen to!


(5 stars)

I did read/listen to the end. Happy to say I enjoy and identify with all the characters. Congratulations, author, may Karma have eased your road.