Charles Waddell Chesnutt

Charles Waddell Chesnutt was an influential African American author born on June 20, 1858, in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised in a mixed-race family, he developed a profound understanding of the complexities of race in America. Chesnutt's literary career took off in the late 19th century, and he became known for his poignant short stories and novels that explored themes of racial identity and social justice. His works, such as "The Conjure Woman" and "The Marrow of Tradition," offer a rich tapestry of Southern life and the struggles of African Americans during and after the Reconstruction era.

Chesnutt was not only a writer but also an advocate for civil rights and education, using his platform to address the pressing issues of his time. His keen observations and beautifully crafted prose invite readers to reflect on the human experience, making his work resonate across generations. We encourage you to delve into Chesnutt's stories available in this app, as they provide both a historical glimpse and a timeless exploration of the human condition.

The Conjure Woman

Read by James K. White


Charles Waddell Chesnutt



Published in 1899 by Houghton Mifflin, Chesnutt's first book, The Conjure Woman, was a collection of seven short stories, all set in "P…

The Marrow of Tradition

Read by James K. White


Charles Waddell Chesnutt



In The Marrow of Tradition, Charles W. Chesnutt--using the 1898 Wilmington, North Carolina massacre as a backdrop--probes and exposes the ra…

The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line

Read by James K. White


Charles Waddell Chesnutt



Published in 1899, The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line is a collection of narratives that addresses the impact of Jim …

The House Behind the Cedars

Read by James K. White


Charles Waddell Chesnutt



In this, Chesnutt's first novel, he tells the tragic story of love set against a backdrop of racism, miscegenation and “passing” during the …

The Colonel's Dream

Read by James K. White


Charles Waddell Chesnutt



In this novel, Chesnutt described the hopelessness of Reconstruction in a post-Civil War South that was bent on reestablishing the former st…

Frederick Douglass A Biography

Read by KirksVoice


Charles Waddell Chesnutt



Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass became one of America's great icons. He escaped slavery to become one of our great abolitionists, stat…