Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee

by Raymond Andrews

Book Overview

Bawdy and sometimes horrifying, hilarious on the way to being tragic, Raymond Andrews's Muskhogean County novels tell of black life in the Deep South from the end of the First World War to the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 082030994X
• ISBN13: 9780820309941
• Release Date: April 1988
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

For those who like the oral tradition

Raymond Andrews's second novel in his Muskhogean County trilogy is centered on the anticipated death of the title character Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee. The character of Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee in true Homeric fashion, as are most of Andrews' characters, is as hyperbolic as her name. She wanders into the fictional southern hamlet of Appalachee and asks for the name of the richest white man in the town. After being apprised of his identity and whereabouts, she quickly enters into a relationship with him. Thus begins an intricate story of a somewhat paradoxical life-long relationship of unquestionable love, affection and mutual exploitation between this African American women and southern white gentleman which Andrews's narrative gradually unfolds as "Momma Rosielee's" many friends and family members wait for her to crossover. As the novel crescendos toward its climax, Andrews draws upon the historical coordinates of the economic devastation of the South caused by the boll weevil followed by the Great Depression and the African American migration northward. As always, Andrews introduces a seemingly never ending cavalcade of characters, most of them larger than life in their persona, who dutifully enter and recite their lines. Some of them enter loudly with a great clamor; some of them enter almost unnoticed until it is time to reveal their presence. The true genius of Andrews's storytelling ability reveals itself in his ability to weave the threads of these disparate characters and their concomitant narratives together in a coherent tapestry. The complex, often contradictory state of race relations in the South acts as a foil of sorts. However, Andrews never points an accusatory finger or takes a pedantic tone. Skillfully deploying a raucous, often irreverent sense of humor, he simply lets the story speak for itself. More than anything else, this is the story of the triumph of a woman who begins life with everything arrayed against her but who manages to overcome regardless and whose indomitable spirit inspires all those she comes into contact with regardless of her myriad flaws.

Outstanding storytelling

Extremely colorful book about a wild character, Rosiebelle Lee. Based on Andrews' grandmother's life as a woman of color whooping it up in the segregated south. Highly recommended even if you don't normally read books from this genre.