The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales

The Conjure Woman and Other Conjure Tales is a collection of thirteen short stories that delve into the complex issues of racial and social identity at the turn of the century.

With supernatural elements such as haunting, transfiguration, and conjuring typical of southern folk tales, these stories are told by a former slave named Uncle Julius to a white couple who have recently moved to the South.

The collection explores difficult issues of miscegenation, illegitimacy, racial identity, and social place through the eyes of African American characters.

"Po' Sandy" recounts how a woman changed her lover into a tree to try and protect him, while "Sis' Becky's Pickaninny" tells the tragic story of a slave woman who is parted from her baby when the plantation owner sells her for a race horse.

This thought-provoking and engaging collection will leave readers with a deeper understanding of the complexities of racial identity in America at the turn of the century.