Winona: A Tale of Negro Life in the South and Southwest

by Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins

Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins was an African American writer at beginning of the 20th century. As a historian, journalist, novelist, and playwright, she helped give voice to black women throughout American with her political reporting and novels.

She was one of the first to use the Romantic Novel as a means to portray social ills. Her novel, Winona (published in 1903), comfortably fits within that tradition and tells a compelling story.


"Ole Satan's mad, an' I am glad,
Send de angels down.
He missed the soul he thought he had,
O, send dem angels down.
Dis is de year of Jubilee,
Send dem angels down.
De Lord has come to set us free,
O, send dem angels down."

Genres: Classics, Historical Fiction

156 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1902

About the author

Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins (1859 – August 13, 1930) was a prominent African-American novelist, journalist, playwright, historian, and editor. She is considered a pioneer in her use of the romantic novel to explore social and racial themes. Her work reflects the influence of W. E. B. Du Bois.

She also wrote under the pseudonym Sarah A. Allen.

Reviews

[Aubrey M White]

Winona was an interesting tale about slavery in that Winona and Judah were not born into slavery as was common in the south. After their father's death and their enslavement, Winona and Judah grew up quickly. Judah in particular was not used to a life without freedom, which caused him to "act out" and resulted in punishment. One scene in particular was striking, in which Judah tamed an unruly horse, impressing an audience. He then received a harsh punishment for his display of intelligence, which shows the nature of the relationship between slaves and their owners. Slave owners as a whole wanted to keep slaves subservient, uneducated, and make them feel inferior. Judah also received harsher treatment than Winona because he was a man. Winona was educated, a privilege that was uncommon for slaves. This is one aspect of Winona growing up. When the novel began, Winona had an innocence about her, something that made her attractive to Maxwell. Then after her father died, Maxwell felt responsible for her and Judah and throughout the book he checked in on them.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is small, yet mighty!

[Ernest Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going West as an escape from slavery, via the Old South, and John Brown's Kansas. And it ain't all just black and white.