Showing results by author "Paul Dunbar" in All Categories

In Representative American Negroes, Paul Laurence Dunbar steps away from fiction to present a series of powerful, intimate portraits of men and women who met the challenges of their era with unyielding dignity and brilliant intellect. Writing with the precision of a historian and the soul of a poet, Dunbar captures more than biography—he captures the spirit of an era. These sketches reflect perseverance in the face of prejudice and quiet distinction in an age of loud opposition.

Robinson Asbury has built a life of influence through hard work and strategic brilliance. But when the wind of political convenience shifts, he discovers that those who cheered his rise are the first to arrange his fall. In a society that demands a culprit to protect its own, Asbury must face a system where justice is a luxury and the truth is a dangerous weapon. With his signature controlled wit and deceptive lightness, Dunbar strips away the mask of "polite society" to reveal the raw power plays beneath.

Orphaned Freddie Brent finds himself adopted by a well-meaning but inexperienced local Christian woman who is completely unprepared for the challenges of raising a child. To complicate matters further, she insists that he follow a path to become a preacher, leading Freddie on a journey filled with unexpected twists and heartfelt moments. - Summary by Jim Locke

Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, Fanatics tells the gripping tale of a divided town in Ohio, torn apart by conflicting ideologies. As tensions rise, can the townspeople find common ground in love and respect? Join us on this emotional journey of unity amidst chaos. - Summary by Stav Nisser. Note to listeners Due to the themes explored in this story, some language and ideas may be challenging or offensive.

Sport of the Gods is a powerful novel by Paul Laurence Dunbar, first published in 1902, that dives deep into the complexities of urban black life. As a family is forced to leave the South, they confront the harsh realities of life in the Northern inner city, revealing the struggles and challenges that often shatter the dreams of African Americans. This poignant exploration from 1902 remains strikingly relevant today.

In this captivating collection of short stories, Paul Laurence Dunbar draws on the success of his acclaimed dialect poems to vividly recreate life on southern plantations during the era of slavery. The narratives present a stereotypical image of slaves as dutiful and content workers, dedicated to their seemingly benevolent owners. While Dunbars portrayal sparked criticism and, at times, outrage for its clichéd representations, the book itself proved to be more financially rewarding than his earlier fiction endeavors. (Summary by Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University)

Discover the essence of Happy Hollow, a place that transcends geographical boundaries. It exists wherever communities of color thrive—be it in bustling cities or quiet villages, where the laborers, porters, and waiters become the backbone of society. From summer picnics to winter revivals, from joyous weddings adorned with cheesecloth veils to solemn processions with black mourners, Happy Hollow embodies the rich tapestry of life. Here, laughter and tears coexist, and the spirit of hard work mingles with moments of leisure. Join us as we explore the heart of this vibrant community.

In Love of Landry, one of Dunbars four novels, we delve into the life of Mildred Osborne, an Eastern aristocrat seeking recuperation at a remote ranch in Colorado. As she navigates a world defined by distinct social norms and the scarcity of women, Mildred embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery. Though the novel lacks direct representation of black characters, it subtly addresses themes of societal prejudice and the complexities of male identity in America. Ultimately, Mildred uncovers the true nature of Landry and realizes he is deserving of her love. Summary by Jim Locke.

The first African American poet to achieve international fame, Paul Laurence Dunbar used his prodigious literary gifts to chronicle and celebrate Black life as he saw it. He utilized both traditional poetic forms and contemporary dialect in a range of styles—lyrical, conversational, and playful—as diverse as his themes. This collection, containing the entirety of Dunbar’s poetry, captures his still vital expressions of love, work, and family. It also serves as a revelatory expression of Dunbar’s frustrations with racial injustice and oppression.

When The Sport of the Gods opens, the Hamilton family is doing relatively well. They have stable jobs and good reputations as servants for a wealthy Southern family - but they also have little sense of how tenuous their existence has become. When money goes missing, the supposed victim points a finger at patriarch Berry Hamilton, and Berry is sentenced to ten years of hard labor. In response, Berry’s wife, Fannie, and his two children, Joe and Kit, migrate to New York City. Their hope is that the great city of the North will provide them with a fresh start.

Berry Hamilton was living a pretty good life - up until he was accused of stealing money from his employer. Despite having worked for the family for 20 years, Berry is found guilty of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to prison. As his wife and children turn to the community, they find themselves shunned. Left with no other choice, Fannie Hamilton and her two children, Joe and Kitty, pick everything up and move to Harlem.

After Douglass’ death, Paul Laurence Dunbar laments his passing and the problems experienced by African Americans in the elegiac poem "Frederick Douglass". The poem provides valuable insights into the situation of the African-American community in the late 19th century.

Poetry can sometimes be elusive, the real meaning layered beneath another. In this volume American poets give voice to their nation, their hopes, and their aspirations. Whitman, Emerson, and Dickinson are joined by Poe, Holmes, Dunbar, and others to pleasure our ears and minds with a rambling stroll through their works. It doesn’t define America, but it captures her mood and the flavours of her soul in the early days of the American dream.

Here are a baker's dozen of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poems brought to life in the medium he always wrote for - the spoken word. As narrated by Bobby Norfolk, these poems evoke the range of moods, from elegy to wonder to celebration, that the poet is remembered for.

Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on 27th June 1872 in Dayton, Ohio. His parents had been slaves in Kentucky before the Civil War. Dunbar wrote his first poem at age six and gave his first public recital at age nine. By 16, he was already published as a poet in The Herald, a local newspaper. After completing his formal schooling in 1891, Dunbar was employed as an elevator operator, at four dollars a week. His hopes of a legal career floundered on a lack of funds and racial discrimination. However, he wrote his poetry and took every opportunity to publish.

The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways

Leviathans stride the poetic stage, known to us all and revered by many. Their verse is at once familiar and yet constantly reveals new layers and depths, new ways of thinking and assembling words to reveal new truths, new feelings and above all new poetry.

In this volume we collect together poets who, by the difference in the colour of their skin, were treated with such disdain and racism that it is difficult to believe that poetry of such tenderness, beauty and authority could exist.

Across fifty poems our classic poets including Christina Georgina Rossetti, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Thomas Hardy & Dante Gabriel Rossetti find verse and tender words to match the occasion. Their descriptions of nature’s ever-evolving landscape and humanity’s ever-changing lives emblazon the page with the lively ink that shapes us all.

The American literary tradition has, in a far shorter span of time than others throughout history, achieved a glowing and glittering reputation. From its transatlantic roots it has absorbed the sons and daughters of other cultures, other lands and made them part of her own. Within this melting pot of styles, genres and wordplay one fact stands out: In the American short story, literary tradition has a strong, vibrant and almost inclusive history, if you know where to look.