The Garies and Their Friends

The Garies and Their Friends (1857) is a novel by Frank J. Webb that explores themes of racial passing and Northern racism decades before such topics were common in African American literature. It follows the Garie family, a white planter from Georgia and his common-law wife Emily, who move to Philadelphia to be accepted by the city's free African American community. However, they encounter prejudice from their neighbors and the growing Irish immigrant population, leading to tragedy that exposes the deep-rooted divides of a nation only a few years away from civil war. This edition of the novel is a classic work of African American literature reimagined for modern readers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 332 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: West Margin Press

The Garies and Their Friends (1857) is a novel by Frank J. Webb, published at the height of the abolitionist movement. It is the second novel written by an African American author in history, and despite being his only work, it showcases Webb's exceptional skills as a writer and political thinker. The novel explores themes of racial passing and Northern racism, which were uncommon in African American literature at the time. Despite its relative unpopularity, particularly due to Webb's refusal to sentimentalize both Northern white and free Black communities, the novel gained scholarly attention and critical acclaim in the latter half of the twentieth century. It is now recognized as a significant work of African American fiction.

The story revolves around Clarence Garie, a white planter from Georgia, and his common-law wife Emily. They raise their two children together with the acceptance of a Southern community accustomed to such relationships between masters and slaves. Fearing for their safety if Clarence were to die, Emily persuades him to move their family to Philadelphia, where they hope to be welcomed by the city's established community of free African Americans. However, they encounter prejudice and discrimination from their neighbors, as well as the growing Irish immigrant population.

Together with their friends, the Ellises, the Garie family becomes the target of vicious attacks by George Stevens, a bigoted attorney seeking to incite a race riot in the city. Tragedy strikes, exposing the deep-rooted divides of a nation on the brink of civil war. The novel's beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript make it a classic work of African American literature.

Dimension: 203 x 127 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781513133553