The Conjure Woman

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The Conjure Woman: Large Print by Charles W. Chesnutt "Wen dey tole 'im 'bout de goopher on de grapevimes, he 'uz dat tarrified dat he turn pale, en look des like he gwine ter die right in his tracks. De oberseah come up en axed w'at 'uz de matter; en w'en dey tole 'im Henry be'n eatin' er de scuppernon's, en got de goopher on 'im, he gin Henry a big drink er w'iskey, en 'low dat de nex' rainy day he take 'im ober ter Aun' Peggy's, en see ef she would n' take de goopher off'n him, seein' ez he did n' know nuffin erbout it tel he done et de grapes. "Sho nuff, it rain de nex' day, en de oberseah went ober ter Aun' Peggy's wid Henry. En Aun' Peggy say dat bein' ez Henry did n' know 'bout de goopher, en et de grapes in ign'ance er de conseq'ences, she reckon she mought be able fer ter take de goopher off'n him. So she fotch out er bottle wid some cunjuh medicine in it, en po'd some out in a go'd fer Henry ter drink. He manage ter git it down; he say it tas'e like whiskey wid sump'n bitter in it. She 'lowe We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

📖 Summary

Charles Waddell Chesnutt's work, presented here in a 2018 large print edition spanning 186 pages, stands as a notable contribution to American literature. While the provided text introduces the book under the general non-fiction category, the classic framework of the volume centers on narrative traditions, folklore, and cultural storytelling rooted in the Southern experience. The provided excerpt vividly showcases the unique vernacular and regional dialect that define the storytelling style of the book, capturing a distinct historical voice through dialogue and narrative rhythm. At the heart of the provided text is a compelling scene involving an overseer, a plantation worker named Henry, and Aun' Peggy. The narrative pivot of this excerpt revolves around the concept of a goopher, a localized term for a curse or spell placed upon the vineyard's scuppernong grapes. When Henry unwittingly consumes the forbidden fruit, he becomes deeply terrified upon learning of the supernatural consequence attached to the harvest. The overseer intervenes, providing whiskey and arranging a visit to Aun' Peggy on the next rainy day to seek a remedy. This interaction highlights how characters navigate fear, superstition, and authority within a deeply structured plantation environment. Aun' Peggy's willingness to potentially remove the goopher, provided that Henry ate the grapes in ignorance of the consequences, illustrates the complex social rules and informal systems of power that governed daily existence in this setting. Through these folkloric elements, the narrative weaves together themes of transgression, punishment, and eventual resolution through the intervention of community figures skilled in rootwork and conjure traditions. The large print format of this 2018 edition makes these rich linguistic patterns and historical narratives accessible to a wide variety of readers who appreciate classic regional literature. The text invites readers to explore the nuances of oral storytelling traditions translated into written prose, preserving a specific cultural lexicon that reflects the complexities of the American South. By examining how ordinary occurrences intersect with deeply held beliefs in curses and remedies, the book offers a window into a specific cultural imagination. Ultimately, the pages of this volume provide an immersive encounter with historical dialect, character-driven folklore, and the enduring power of vernacular storytelling as preserved through Chesnutt's enduring literary lens.

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