The mule-bone : $b a comedy of Negro life in three acts

audiobook

The mule-bone : $b a comedy of Negro life in three acts

by Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston

EN·~1 hours·5 chapters

Chapters

5 total
1

The Mule-Bone | Project Gutenberg

0:10
2

CHARACTERS

1:29
3

ACT ONE

1:05:39
4

ACT TWO - SCENE I

14:09
5

ACT THREE

19:26

Description

A bustling Saturday afternoon on the porch of a modest country store sets the stage, where the air hums with the crackle of chewing sugar‑cane, the clatter of cards, and the chatter of townsfolk. The community’s eclectic cast—boisterous mayor Joe Clark, quick‑tongued guitarist Jim Weston, the gentle dancer Dave Carter, and the flirtatious Daisy Taylor—populate the scene, each bringing their own swagger, prayers, and petty rivalries to the lively tableau. Their interactions, peppered with witty banter and playful insults, reveal a tight‑knit world where church, commerce, and gossip intertwine.

Through sharp dialogue and vivid stage directions, the play captures the rhythm of everyday life in a small Southern town, from the lamplight‑lit porch to the clamor of children’s games. The humor is rooted in character quirks and local color, offering listeners a warm, comedic glimpse into a community that laughs at its own foibles while confronting the subtle tensions of ambition, love, and social standing.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (96K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team

Release date

2006-10-02

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the authors

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes

1902–1967

A leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance, this poet and storyteller brought jazz rhythms, sharp wit, and everyday Black life into American literature. His work moves easily between joy, struggle, humor, and protest, which is why it still feels so alive today.

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Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston

1891–1960

A brilliant voice of the Harlem Renaissance, this novelist and folklorist brought Black Southern life, speech, and tradition onto the page with warmth, humor, and independence. Best known for Their Eyes Were Watching God, she wrote with a style that still feels alive and modern.

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