Showing results by author "Paul Laurence Dunbar" in All Categories

Here are a baker's dozen of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poems brought to life in the medium he always wrote for - the spoken word. As narrated by Bobby Norfolk, these poems evoke the range of moods, from elegy to wonder to celebration, that the poet is remembered for.

Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on 27th June 1872 in Dayton, Ohio. His parents had been slaves in Kentucky before the Civil War. Dunbar wrote his first poem at age six and gave his first public recital at age nine. By 16, he was already published as a poet in The Herald, a local newspaper. After completing his formal schooling in 1891, Dunbar was employed as an elevator operator, at four dollars a week. His hopes of a legal career floundered on a lack of funds and racial discrimination. However, he wrote his poetry and took every opportunity to publish.

Discover the essence of Happy Hollow, a place that transcends geographical boundaries. It exists wherever communities of color thrive—be it in bustling cities or quiet villages, where the laborers, porters, and waiters become the backbone of society. From summer picnics to winter revivals, from joyous weddings adorned with cheesecloth veils to solemn processions with black mourners, Happy Hollow embodies the rich tapestry of life. Here, laughter and tears coexist, and the spirit of hard work mingles with moments of leisure. Join us as we explore the heart of this vibrant community.

Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, Fanatics tells the gripping tale of a divided town in Ohio, torn apart by conflicting ideologies. As tensions rise, can the townspeople find common ground in love and respect? Join us on this emotional journey of unity amidst chaos. - Summary by Stav Nisser. Note to listeners Due to the themes explored in this story, some language and ideas may be challenging or offensive.

In this captivating collection of short stories, Paul Laurence Dunbar draws on the success of his acclaimed dialect poems to vividly recreate life on southern plantations during the era of slavery. The narratives present a stereotypical image of slaves as dutiful and content workers, dedicated to their seemingly benevolent owners. While Dunbars portrayal sparked criticism and, at times, outrage for its clichéd representations, the book itself proved to be more financially rewarding than his earlier fiction endeavors. (Summary by Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University)

Sport of the Gods is a powerful novel by Paul Laurence Dunbar, first published in 1902, that dives deep into the complexities of urban black life. As a family is forced to leave the South, they confront the harsh realities of life in the Northern inner city, revealing the struggles and challenges that often shatter the dreams of African Americans. This poignant exploration from 1902 remains strikingly relevant today.

The language of Poetry is an art that most of us attempt at some point in our lives. Although its commonplace exposure has been somewhat marginalised in today’s often fast-paced lives we all recognise good verse that can empathise with our thoughts or open us up to experience new things in new ways

Leviathans stride the poetic stage, known to us all and revered by many. Their verse is at once familiar and yet constantly reveals new layers and depths, new ways of thinking and assembling words to reveal new truths, new feelings and above all new poetry.

In this volume we collect together poets who, by the difference in the colour of their skin, were treated with such disdain and racism that it is difficult to believe that poetry of such tenderness, beauty and authority could exist.

Across fifty poems our classic poets including Christina Georgina Rossetti, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Thomas Hardy & Dante Gabriel Rossetti find verse and tender words to match the occasion. Their descriptions of nature’s ever-evolving landscape and humanity’s ever-changing lives emblazon the page with the lively ink that shapes us all.

The American literary tradition has, in a far shorter span of time than others throughout history, achieved a glowing and glittering reputation. From its transatlantic roots it has absorbed the sons and daughters of other cultures, other lands and made them part of her own. Within this melting pot of styles, genres and wordplay one fact stands out: In the American short story, literary tradition has a strong, vibrant and almost inclusive history, if you know where to look.