The Quest of the Silver Fleece A Novel W. E. B. Du Bois.
Illustrated by H. S. De Lay "Dramatic, original, and
convincing."--"Literary Digest" "The author has put into the story
all his wealth of justice and passion."--"Independent" Set in
Alabama and Washington, D.C., in the early part of the twentieth
century, W. E. B. Du Bois's first novel weaves the themes of racial
equality and understanding through the stark reality of prejudice
and bias. Originally published in 1911 and conceived immediately
after "The Souls of Black Folk," Du Bois turned to fiction to carry
his message to a popular audience who were unfamiliar with his
nonfiction works. Du Bois addresses the fact that, despite the
legal emancipation of African Americans, the instruments of
oppression, in both the economy and government, remained in good
working order. At the time he was writing, powerful white
industrialists controlled the cotton industry, the "silver fleece"
that depended, as it did during slavery, on the physical labor of
African Americans. White Americans also controlled local and
national government. In the novel, Blessed "Bles" Alwyn, a young
man seeking formal education to improve himself, is captivated by
Zora, a vivacious, independent woman who lives outside society in a
mysterious swamp. Faced with shocking events in Zora's past and
ambivalence about how a black man should integrate into American
society, Bles pursues his goals and ends up in Washington to assist
on a senator's campaign. While in the city, he meets successful
African Americans--and falls in love--but he ultimately recoils
from the hypocrisies they must endure in order to be accepted in
society. Instead, he is compelled to return to Alabama and Zora,
where he must face his greatest challenges and fears. With its
frank and clear language, "The Quest of the Silver Fleece" is a
remarkable portrait of racial prejudice at the turn of the
twentieth century. Through the characters, Du Bois demonstrates the
efficacy of self-sufficiency for those who face discrimination
while championing the benefits of strength in diversity to American
society as a whole. William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963)
was an American sociologist, author, and cofounder of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). His
pioneering works "The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study" and "The
Negro" are also available from the University of Pennsylvania
Press. Pine Street Books 2004 440 pages 5 x 7 1/2 4 illus. ISBN
978-0-8122-1892-3 Paper $19.95s 13.00 ISBN 978-0-8122-0179-6 Ebook
$19.95s 13.00 World Rights Fiction
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
