I was drawn more to the anthropological aspect of the book, more so than the literary merits (which it has lots of). --Roger D. AbrahamsMules and Men is the first great collection of black America's folk world. "Mules and Men" is an outstanding source of information about the folk-tales, called "lies", of rural Southern African-Americans. There was one tale, or "lie" as it is said to be in the book that I felt was cut off, maybe it was just bad editing. the narrative is made up almost entirely of a travelogue of sorts, with our narrator going from town to town in florida documenting different variations of the oral tradition of these towns, story piled atop story interspersed with zora's own personal adventures getting to know the folks. So true and very refreshing. Yet, this collection can struggle because it ultimately doesn’t know how to be what it wants to be. 4.0 Stars. I would suggest reading Their Eyes Were Watching God and if you enjoy the style, dive deeply and fearlessly into her universe with Mules and Men. I thought this was going to be a collection of short stories, instead it's a non-fiction book with interviews. Purveyors of craic and acid celtgrass. The men were intimately familiar with the strengths and foibles of their four-legged companions, and the mules had developed a reasonable tolerance for the men—especially around feeding time. In the 1930s, Zora Neale Hurston returned to her home town of Eatonville, Florida, to collect and record the oral histories, songs, and sermons, many dating back to slavery times, … In her quest, she found herself and her history throughout these highly metaphorical folk-tales, "big old lies," and the lyrical language of song. Most people forget that Zora Neale Hurston was an Anthropologist who completed extensive fieldwork. In writing Mules and Men, Hurston not only found a way to make a crucial bridge between her anthropological and literary ambitions but also created … Mules and Men is a treasury of black America's folklore as collected by a famous storyteller and anthropologist who grew up hearing the songs and sermons, sayings and tall tales that have formed an oral history of the South since the time of slavery. [2][7][8], The work has a significant legacy in African-American literature and anthropology. ― Zora Neale Hurston, Mules and Men. The most popular color? Mules and Men is effectively an anthology of African American folktales compiled by Zora Neale Hurston. The writing itself was great, but the most amazing bit was how her style conveyed both love and respect for tradition, black history and floklore. The book explores stories she collected in two trips: one in Eatonville and Polk County, Florida, and one in New Orleans. If you want yo' finger bit poke it at a possum.”. Unaware I was reading an abridged version of this read it still was a GoodRead, I just wonder what was taking out, the reason I normally do not read abridged books. This is a collection of black American folk lore. There are stories of survival, triumph and failure as people come together to live their lives in communities. They also think that because she's rich she won't fit in to their circle. Pioneering folklore and ethnography. Mules and Men is a 1935 autoethnographical collection of African-American folklore collected and written by anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. 6d. Hurs. This book was interesting at times due to Hurston's description the socio/historic nature of Southern localities where she collected her stories. There are stories of survival, triumph and failure as people come together to live their lives in communities. There is something really beautiful about knowing that she went out and collected these book of lies that have out lived her and will hopefully outlive us. At a time in history when the lives of African Americans weren't given much regard at all, Hurston (with assistance from a Charlotte Osgood Mason - a patron of many Harlem Renaissance authors) spent 1928-1932 visiting her hometown and the surrounding cities, as well as New Orleans in L. Zora Neale Hurston had a great interest in the African American storytelling and folklore traditions which were a prominent part of her childhood in Eatonville, Florida as well as across the entire American South. This book read differently than I though. Mules & Men are a four-piece Irish bluegrass band 12s. Mules and Men, a study of folkways among the African American population of Florida, followed in 1935. There was one tale, or "lie" as it is said to be in the book that I felt was cut off, maybe it was just bad editing. In the 1930's, Zora Neale Hurston returned to her "native village" of Eatonville, Florida to record the oral histories, sermons and songs, dating back to the time of slavery, which she remembered hearing as a child. This is what makes life beautiful. This page provides an index to the e-text of Zora Neale Hurston's Mules and Men. I'm glad a read it. Part one is a little hard to read at times too because Zora tries to write the dialect of her people. The most common mules and men material is metal. There are 70 stories from her travels in Florida, and 30 stories in New Orleans. Be the first to ask a question about Mules and Men. [1] The book explores stories she collected in two trips: one in Eatonville and Polk County, Florida, and one in New Orleans. Mules and Men is a fascinating piece as it deals with anthropology in a very story-like way. It is a a group of oral stories that were passed on to and written down by author Zora Neale Hurston (known for Their Eyes Were Watching God). this proved to be a lively and approachable vision of the 'big lies' (folktales) of southern black folk from an era that seems bygone or at least far away to a white midwesterner living in the 21st century such as myself. We’d love your help. (London: Kegan Paul and Co., Ltd., 1936.) She received funding for her to conduct this research in person, so she started visiting places. Mules & Men Mules & Men are practitioners of the Acid-Celtgrass scene. At first, one can tell the communities are cautious of her and suspicious. I think some of them are ridiculous, like the one. People interested in folk talkes, Hoodoo, African history, I need to go back and re-read Their Eyes Were Watching God. January 22nd 1990 --Roger D. AbrahamsMules and Men is the first great collection of black America's folk world. 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