Oxherding Tale

by Charles R. Johnson

One night in the antebellum South, a slave owner and his African-American butler stay up to all hours until, too drunk to face their wives, they switch places in each other's beds. The result is a hilarious imbroglio and an offspring -- Andrew Hawkins, whose life becomes Oxherding Tale.

Through sexual escapades, picaresque adventures, and philosophical inquiry, Hawkins navigates white and black worlds and comments wryly on human nature along the way. Told with pure genius, Oxherding Tale is a deliciously funny, bitterly ironic account of slavery, racism, and the human spirit; and it reveals the author as a great talent with even greater humanity.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, African American, Literature, Classics, Novels, Race

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1982

About the author

Charles R. Johnson is an American scholar and author of novels, short stories, and essays. Johnson, an African-American, has directly addressed the issues of black life in America in novels such as Middle Passage and Dreamer. Johnson first came to prominence in the 1960s as a political cartoonist, at which time he was also involved in radical politics. In 1970, he published a collection of cartoons, and this led to a television series about cartooning on PBS.

1990 National Book Award Winner.

Reviews

[Petra watched Buddhist nuns learn dancing today · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is much made of the beginning of this book - that the master and slave-butler swap beds and wives, after a night of drunken card-playing. This incident is only a device to bring the hero into existence in a particular way, it becomes less and less relevant to the story as it is told.

It is a picaresque slave-narrative told with a strongly Buddhist point of view and whereas this sort of book expounding the author's philosophy generally bores me rigid - as in the execrable 'The Island' (Aldous Huxley), this time it works. The series of events, almost complete stories in themselves are very visual, which adds to the enjoyment, and I can see a film of the book, although I don't think the philosophy would survive.

Perhaps what is different in this book from so many slave-narratives, real or fiction, is that the Whites, Masters and Mistresses, are not generally cruel in a day-to-day manner. No, they are self-indulgent. They are cruel only when displeased in a large or small way. They pretend to themselves that all's right with their world and so therefore all must be right with the world and if it isn't, well then, its probably the slaves' fault as they are supposed to be doing all the work in it. Punish them, sell them, what does it matter? They are only ciphers or farm animals, and only attain a humanity of sorts - like the slave butler - when it suits the Master or Mistress.

What did I learn from the book? That it actually does matter what you look like, for some people, a lot of people, nothing but nothing is that important no matter that they pretend otherwise.

When reading the book, forget the protagonist's slave status and substitute 'not free' or 'owned' instead because that is how he thinks of himself and how the author has written the book.

[Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good example of why novels exist.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one knocked me for a loop.

It’s a historical fiction slave narrative, in pre-civil war America, woven through with classical western and eastern philosophy, and a big dose of erotic parody (handled oh so gently).

How did I not know about Mr. Johnson’s works before now?

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a terrific, inventive novel. I'm hard-pressed to think of a time I was more dazzled by a book at the sentence level. Structured in the tradition of a slave narrative, it chronicles the flight to freedom of Andrew, his sexual adventures, not to mention his origin story, which caused a few ripples of controversy when this was first published in the 1980s. The story takes place in an area I know well--Upstate South Carolina--during the years before the Civil War, so it had my attention from the first page. It moves from Abbeville, to Greenville and concludes in Spartanburg, though I'm not sure what connection, if any, Johnson has to the Palmetto State.

Johnson has written at length about philosophy and he works in a multitude of references to Kant and other great thinkers. The flights of fancy--I'm reluctant to call them examples of magical realism--come rapidly and aren't always successful. Johnson is a master of the simile and I grinned when he broke the fourth wall. But an appearance by Karl Marx in the middle-third took me out of the novel. There aren't an abundance of characters, but Johnson uses multiple names for each and at times it was a challenge to keep up with who he was referring to, especially after they returned from a 50-plus page absence.

I think this would be interesting to pair with Colson Whitehead's Underground Railroad or maybe even Beloved by Toni Morrison. On its own, Oxherding Tale is a rewarding and accomplished piece of work.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying how much I love this book. By turns a picaresque novel, a slave narrative, and a philosophical treatise, it is also none of these, but a clever and erudite literary game with form and genre. Johnson's long introduction in the edition I read (Plume, Penguinputnam) carries a scent of bitterness over the exhausting genesis and subsequent life of the book. It is true that he came onto the scene just when brilliant and talented women writers like Alice Walker and Toni Morrison were emerging. For better or worse the African-American narrative has been told in their women's voices for the last generation. Johnson, along with other male writers, has been obscured, though not invisible.
He did win the National Book Award for Middle Passage, a book I found frustrating, as if it had had all the best parts edited out.
Oxherding Tale, though, delivers on so many levels. The language is delightful, the humor perfectly timed (except for the odd bad joke stuck in), and the insight into Everymans journey from slavery to freedom, a journey that might not exist at all, is profound.
The title is revealing and apt if you are familiar with the famous Buddhist story/paintings. Do read this book and enjoy discovering a depth and perspective that you might not have expected to find.

[Frank Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This if a wonderful book, from a brilliant writer, thinker, and Buddhist practitioner that manages to work in Dharmic themes into a "slave narrative" unlike any other! The 'voice' at times is incredibly funny and poignant, sometimes at the same time. There's something of a Tristram Shandy flavor at times.
What is perhaps most strikingly original, is that Prof. Johnson has been able to investigate the nature of race and racial identity in a semi-comic, slave narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would befall our protagonist next. And the characters!
Read this book!

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unconventional slave narrative, following the protagonist from his life at Cripplegate, sexual escapades at Leviathan and other such follies. A brilliant young man born of an accidental drunken folly. The names of places are obviously imbued with metaphor. This was written by and from the perspective of a Buddhist. Hard to do justice by review, but a wonderful, engaging, thought provoking novel of the sort one doesn't come upon often. I love this book.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Johnson, author of Middle Passage, writes a slave narrative that is a gruesomely funny retelling of a Taoist parable. I'm not familiar enough with the philosophical underpinnings to comment, but the resulting novel reads like a sort of Pilgrim's Progress version of up from slavery. I may have to read some Buddhist background material and take a second run at this, but that's not all bad. I really enjoyed the book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book which I read years ago, late 80s. The voice is of an educated slave who knows philosophy (as does Johnson). I'm a sucker for educated voices which now philosophy. The narration is strong, the characters unique. READ IT. It's a better book than Johnson's Dreamer, although that is a failed miracle.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

... basically what would happen if Kafka was black and liked zen buddhist parables. I was, quite honestly, overwhelmed by this book, which doesn't really happen all too often any more. Full review to follow.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique. This takes the form of a slave narrative but has
characteristics of the weird, experimental, and often shameless fiction of the 70s/80s. On top of that Buddhist philosophy is sort of shoehorned in. It’s very good, and very readable, but I don’t really know what the novel trying to do. I was also a bit put off by this statement in Johnson’s introduction:

My agent, Anne Borchardt, tells me finding a home for this this novel was one of the triumphs of her career. And little wonder: the 1980s began as a decade when the work of black male writers was systematically downplayed and ignored in commercial, New York publishing. For example, Oxherding Tale appeared the same year as Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. I leave it to readers to decide which book pushes harder at the boundaries of invention, and inhabits most confidently the space where fiction and philosophy meet.

Why the specific comparison to Walker? (Not that I’m a fan). And why should fiction and philosophy so forcefully and purposefully meet, as they do in Johnson’s novel? Can fiction, on its own, be a pure and innovative form of philosophy?

[Liz Sutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most clever book I’ve EVER read. Obsessed with the manifestations of Daoism and other philosophies.

[Alfia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky take on the slave narrative written in the 1980s by a Buddhist philosophy nerd. Reminded me of a more imaginative Siddhartha - both earthier and more ethereal - at turns full of pathos, geekiness, humor, and horror. Often beautiful and imaginative use of language. In the author's introduction (which does not include spoilers) he lets us know that this was his passion project, and publishers resisted it for a long time. You can see why, with all the philosophical references and the outsize use of obscure and neologistic language; it doesn't fall into an easily marketable niche. There is some snapping at the publishing industry in the book too. Would definitely read more by him.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I debated between 4 and 5 and wound up on 5. A simple, and in some ways typical, escaped slave story, but there's so much more. There's a humor running through the whole book that often took me by surprise. A lot of philosophy, particularly Eastern, but it doesn't ignore the West. It's a good read, denser than you might think at first, and one where I kept realizing bits here and there as I went. Would recommend.

[Richard Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book that I never would have picked up if it wasn't for my class, my MFA. And it is a strange book, part Zen meditation, part slave narrative, and a wicked mix of sex, violence and philosophy. It really built up to a powerful ending and overall, I really enjoyed reading it. Surprised, in many ways.

[Elizabeth Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious look at a slave narrative. Some of the humor is dark, and can be missed. Oxherding Tale follows the story of Andrew, a mulatto slave from his slave father and his master's wife. The tale follows him as he embarks on a journey for his freedom, the differences between the white world and black world, and the gender divide of men and women.

[Ian Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually really good. Im not sure if i had a hard time with the beginning because i was falling asleep or if i was falling asleep because i wasnt that into it. Once i was in it moved at a really great pace. I will say that there were weird ebbs and flows in the story so it kind of meandered at parts.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was about to withdraw this book from the library where I work. It had been overlooked by the readers there. It is a curious gem of a book. Set in the Antebellum South, Oxherding Tale gives the slave narrative form a farcical twist, with some Eastern philosophy to boot!

[Paul Massignani · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a Pre-Civil War mulatto. The psychic and philosophical fence-riding dance he does to survive living two worlds at once. It's not a book I thought I'd like, but I'm a believer in Charles Johnson after reading it.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but not light. Andrew’s journey through the antebellum south is littered with mythical characters made to feel ordinary. Humor, sex and vice cut through the interrogations of philosophy, love, and race. The story takes unexpected turns all the way up until the end.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is out of control. i just finished it and my mind is still spinning... dissertation to follow.

[Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite book. If you want to understand the essence of the jouney one must take, read this book.

[Stanley Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slavery as seen through a lens of Zen Buddhism or Buddhism as seen through a lens of slavery. I can't tell which it is. But perhaps that's the Zen of it all.

[Michael Mcnichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philosophy, sexual politics, and the meaning of self and freedom.

[Christiane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulously written, this book is rich in literary metaphors and veracity of life. Beware, you may want to read more of his books!!!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this several years ago. A fictional slave narrative that is also steeped in Zen. Really cool. Someday someone I know will read this.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this philosophical novel, Johnson tests the question, "What is a good life?" through well-drawn, well-rounded, and unforgettable characters.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

About black American identity. And incredible story. Reminded me of Garcia Marquez's famous book. Though this one is much shorter.

[Chris Timmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Johnson is a terrific writer. A true pleasure to read: wildly funny, insightful, rueful, wise.

[Lagobond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like your standard case of domestic violence, in that it follows a predictable pattern of intoxicating highs and punishing lows. It's messy and sometimes downright toilsome to read. With depressing regularity, I'd decide to leave the relationship stop reading. But every time I did, just like flowers and solicitous displays of affection from an abuser, something rewarding came along that kept me wanting more.

Oh yes, Charles R. Johnson can write, but he can painfully ramble too. (I will say I'm curious to see what he wrote later in life.) There are fascinating, grotesquely comical scenes that had me shaking my head in horrified amusement. (The opening scene; the veterinarian's life assurance list.) There's some information about the slavery-era South that I was not familiar with; lots of interesting vocabulary too. There were brilliantly written bits of insight which would have worked well had there been more prelude, but which felt random and meta because they came at the wrong point in the story. There were promising avenues of storytelling that the writer promised to let me wander, only to immediately pull me down some dark, dead-end alley instead.

The entire character of Ezekiel didn't work for me at all. He plainly just served as a vehicle to introduce Buddhist thinking into the story, and to give Andrew Hawkins access to education; however he felt pasted-on and wooden, and frankly was a total bore. The main thing to be said for Ezekiel is that the overly dramatic/romantic descriptions of him, all the way to the end, would have fit into any novel actually written in the 19th century. Hard to believe he wasn't created until around 1980.

The story here is outlandish and yet I am willing to suspend disbelief, because as we know, slavery defies logic and people do strange things, and who am I to say that a journey like Andrew Hakwins' could not have happened. And it's fiction, yes? But it's fiction aspiring to tell a true story of sorts, fiction aiming to show a deeply human experience of the kind which should horrify and disgust any normal person. And certainly there are aspects of it that feel true, but somehow the whole thing is (if we can believe the main character) horrifying and disgusting only in theory. I just can't connect with this narrator!

Johnson shows glimpses of people's lives that let us see things we don't normally see. He draws enlightened parallels between the oppression of black people and women. He tells a story that made me want to know what happens next, and he tells it well when he sticks with the events. He creates truly memorable characters and conversations. This is good stuff, but then he gets lost in endless philosophical ruminations, told in tortured sentences that don't really ring true, and don't serve a purpose, and made me want to a) go to sleep or b) stab my eyeballs with a fork. There are detours in the story that should have been cut (what's up with the Marx/Althea chapter?). Bits of the story are told out of order, and not in a planned way. Did the editor fall asleep, too?!

This book wants to be everything at once, and in the end it's neither here or there. It's a mix of slavery fiction and nonfiction, adventure story, Bildungsroman, seemingly drug-fueled philosophical/moral/religious treatise which oscillates between astuteness and youthful navel-gazing, social commentary (both historical and modern), with a little harlequin romance, a sprinkling of breathtaking sex and a few very quotable bits thrown in. But the parts don't make a whole. The characters are flat and their actions not credible. How is Andrew so very detached the entire time? He's an observer more than a protagonist; he watches and explains and theorizes, but even in the worst depths of his young life, his emotions remain written and read rather than felt. And by the way, some of the information is factually wrong and should have been researched properly, like the pellagra stuff.

3 stars only because I did finish the entire thing, even though I had to jump from page 87 to page 154, finish the end, and then go back to the part I had skipped. It was the only way I could keep myself from giving up at a point when my reading seemed as pointless as Ezekiel's existence.