3 Review(s)

"Uncle Remus," written by Joel Chandler Harris, is a collection of enthralling Southern African-American folktales. The book is a collection of stories told to a young boy named John by the imaginary figure Uncle Remus, an older African-American storyteller. These stories take place on a Southern plantation and contain animals such as Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear. Harris captures the rich oral history of African-American storytelling with skill, preserving these narratives for a larger audience. The stories communicate moral lessons and the intricacies of human nature through Uncle Remus' captivating storytelling. The interactions between Br'er Rabbit and his opponents serve as allegories for numerous life problems, educating readers about wit, cunning, and resourcefulness. "Uncle Remus" is both a literary work and a cultural document, providing light on the complexity of post-Civil War Southern society. While Harris' representation of racial relations has received criticism, the relevance of the book resides in its preservation of these classic legends and realistic picture of a distinct cultural milieu. "Uncle Remus" by Joel Chandler Harris is a thought-provoking and historically significant work, providing readers with insight into the oral storytelling traditions of the African-American community as well as the cultural environment of the American South during that century.