Dog Ghosts And Other Texas Negro Folk Tales

J. MASON BREWER

Publication: University of Texas Press, 1958, Austin

First edition. 8vo. Gray cloth, decoration and titles stamped in black on the front cover and spine, xiv, 124 pp., foreword, introduction, frontispiece, illustrated from drawings by John T. Biggers, The author of this book has done more than any other American to preserve the fast-vanishing folklore of the rural Southern African-American. After reading this book J. Frank Dobie commented "Even better than The Word On The Brazos," an earlier book publication by the author. Tales abound about benign spirits who return from the dead, the ghosts of dead mothers who return to provide help and benefit to their loved ones, of those who call directly on the Lord for help and even one who reneged when his prayer was answered, etc. There are also religious tales, farm and ranch tales, animal tales, tales of slavery, and others difficult to classify. An excellent book on African-American folk tales in dialect and the eight full-page illustrations by John T. Biggers are not only attractive but also add a humorous dimension to the stories. Very good tight copy in lightly soiled dust jacket with moderate wear to the spine ends, corners and extremities. Important and scarce today.