Conjure Woman (AmazonClassics Edition), The

A northern white couple has relocated to the South to operate a vineyard on a North Carolina plantation. There, they pass their idle hours listening to the stories of one Uncle Julius, who has a deep knowledge of the land. These stories, however, are more than mere entertainments. They all have their time and place, and they offer not only a quiet commentary on the events of the day but also a deeper reckoning with the plantation’s disturbing past.

First published in 1899, this collection of stories introduced Charles W. Chesnutt to the public as a spinner of fantastical conjure tales. Exploring Southern folklore and supernaturalism and offering a subversive challenge to white authority, they are now regarded as preeminent works of African American literature.

Revised edition: Previously published as The Conjure Woman, this edition of The Conjure Woman (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.