The Colonel's Dream
Charles Waddell Chesnutt
Read by James K. White
In this novel, Chesnutt described the hopelessness of Reconstruction in a post-Civil War South that was bent on reestablishing the former status quo and rebuilding itself as a region of the United States where new forms of "slavery" would replace the old. This novel illustrated how race hatred and the impotence of a reluctant Federal Government trumped the rule of law, ultimately setting the stage for the rise of institutions such as Jim Crow, lynching, chain gangs and work farms--all established with the intent of disenfranchising African Americans. - Summary by James K. White (9 hr 5 min)
Chapters
Dedication & Chapter 1 | 25:05 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 2 | 10:01 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 3 | 20:17 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 4 | 15:33 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 5 | 10:50 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 6 | 22:57 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 7 | 9:26 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 8 | 16:16 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 9 | 27:00 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 10 | 9:21 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 11 | 24:56 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 12 | 6:47 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 13 | 24:17 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 14 | 20:19 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 15 | 20:30 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 16 | 14:22 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 17 | 7:23 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 18 | 25:06 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 19 | 20:35 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 20 | 21:49 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 21 | 11:20 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 22 | 10:42 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 23 | 10:59 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 24 | 13:54 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 25 | 9:18 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 26 | 13:47 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 27 | 8:22 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 28 | 14:59 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 29 | 16:22 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 30 | 8:35 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 31 | 8:57 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 32 | 13:30 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 33 | 5:45 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 34 | 4:00 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 35 | 8:18 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 36 | 12:59 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 37 | 6:39 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 38 | 4:29 | Read by James K. White |
Chapter 39 | 9:51 | Read by James K. White |
Reviews
Colonel's Dream
TheBookworm
Another great novel by one of the finest black American writers rescued from undeservedly obscurity by reader/performer James White. The story of how peonage survived into the late 19th century via the era's obscene vagrancy laws is sobering, shocking. Mercifully, this social novel doesn't preach and has complex actors -- not all black characters are paragons and many white ones have good intentions but are ineffective. Good doesn't always triumph and even true love sometimes fails to win out. Hmm. Sounds like real life. I understand that Chestnutt's publisher was less than thrilled with the book, which didn't sell so well. Which only goes to show ...er, something or other. As usual, James White's reading is a real pleasure. Thank you! TheBookworm, Manchester, UK.
THANK GOD THE WORLD HAS CHANGED...A BIT.
tripet
I MUST THANK THE READER,I REALLT GOT INTO EACH CHARACTER.DID NOT WANT TO GO TO SLEEP AS THIS WAS A SAD COMPELLING STORY OF MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN. I JUST HOPE THAT ALL THOSE NEGRO HATERS REINCARNATED TO BECOME A MEMBER OF A DOWNTRODDEN CULTURE. IF GOD HAD SIMPLY MADE US ALL GREY THESE PROBLEMS WIULD NOT HAVE EVENTUATED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE BETTER THAN ANOTHER...A BRAIN SURGEON OR A MAID WHO DO A GOOD JOB , ARE, IN MY EYES EQUAL.
Devastating
sarahm
This novel struck me as the most complex of the Chesnutt novels that I have read thus far. It is also absolutely devastation. Considering the times it details, it would have been impossible to be otherwise. As always, James White's reading is superb.
anb
Excellent reading, as always. The book is not the best from the author, but it is worth your time.
great story
Michael Perkins
Very well read and the story tells of what it was like back then.
Superbly written and narrated
Njuguna Gichohi
Superbly written and narrated