pIThe Conjure WomanI 1899 is a collection of stories by African American author lawyer and political activist Charles Chesnutt. The Goophered Grapevine the collections opening story was originally published in IThe AtlanticI in 1887 making Chesnutt the first African American to have a story published in the magazine. IThe Conjure WomanI is now considered a masterpiece of African American fiction for its use of folklore and exploration of racist stereotypes of Black Americans especially those living in the South.p pIn The Goophered Grapevine an old exslave named Julius McAdooa coachman hired by a white Northerner named Johnwarns his employer about the land he has decided to purchase. He tells him the story of the vineyards previous owner who hired a woman named Aunt Peggy to put a curse on his famous scuppernong grapes in order to stop his slaves from eating them. Each story in IThe Conjure WomanI follows a similar formula beginning with a narrative situation involving John and his wife Annie before leading to a story from Uncle Julius. Po Sandy one of Chesnutts most acclaimed talesand a loose adaptation of Ovids IMetamorphosesIopens with John deciding to build a new kitchen for his wife. Uncle Julius drives him to the saw mill where while watching the saw cut through a log he is reminded of the story of Sandy a local man who was turned into a tree by a conjurer in order to escape slavery. IThe Conjure WomanI is a powerful collection of folk takes and stories exploring themes of race identity and class in the nineteenth century South.p pWith a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript this edition of Charles Chesnutts IThe Conjure WomanI is a classic of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.p