Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings - Softcover

Harris, Joel Chandler

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0805201017 ISBN 13: 9780805201017

Publisher: Schocken Books, 1969

Synopsis

Uncle Remus Stories was first published in 1906 by Joel Chandler Harris, is presented here with full illustrations by A.B . Frost and Harry Rowntree. Uncle Remus is a collection of animal stories, songs, and oral folklore, collected from Southern United States African-Americans. Many of the stories are didactic, much like those of Aesop's Fables and the stories of Jean de La Fontaine. Uncle Remus is a kindly old former slave who serves as a storytelling device, passing on the folktales to children gathered around him. Br'er Rabbit ("Brother Rabbit") is the main character of the stories, a likable character, prone to tricks and trouble-making who is often opposed by Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear. In one tale, Br'er Fox constructs a lump of tar and puts clothing on it. When Br'er Rabbit comes along he addresses the "tar baby" amiably, but receives no response. Br'er Rabbit becomes offended by what he perceives as Tar Baby's lack of manners, punches it, and becomes stuck.

About this title

About the Author:

After the first book appeared in 1880, Joel Chandler Harris was deluged with letters from readers all over the country asking for more stories of Brer Rabbit and his friends--so for the remaining years of his life he collected and wrote them. Richard Chase, noted folklorist and author of Jack Tales and Grandfather Tales, compiled and edited the volume after Harris s death, and his occasional footnotes and word definitions contribute to our understanding of the dialect. Chase s belief in the importance of folktales and Harris s work is summed up in his foreword: "These tales grew up in the soil of our nation. They came from the soul of a people. They endure."

About this edition

• Publisher: Schocken Books
• Publication date: 1969
• ISBN 10: 0805201017
• ISBN 13: 9780805201017
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 218