
UNCLE REMUS: HIS SONGS AND HIS SAYINGS
By Joel Chandler Harris
PREFACE AND DEDICATION - TO THE NEW EDITION
INTRODUCTION
LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION
I. UNCLE REMUS INITIATES THE LITTLE BOY
II. THE WONDERFUL TAR BABY STORY
III. WHY MR. POSSUM LOVES PEACE
IV. HOW MR. RABBIT WAS TOO SHARP FOR MR. FOX
V. THE STORY OF THE DELUGE AND HOW IT CAME ABOUT
Through the warm voice of a beloved storyteller, listeners are invited into the world of Southern plantations where trickster animals and wise folk share timeless tales. The collection gathers familiar characters—cunning rabbits, clever foxes, and gentle talking birds—who outwit danger and teach subtle lessons about wit, perseverance, and community. Each story unfolds in a lyrical, colloquial speech that captures the rhythm of oral tradition while preserving the humor and pathos of its origins. The narrator’s affection for his young audience shines through, making the folklore feel both intimate and universal.
The narrator explains that, despite the lighthearted tone, the work carries a serious purpose: to preserve a cultural heritage that might otherwise fade. By rendering the tales in the authentic speech of the storytellers, the book offers a vivid glimpse into the lives and values of a bygone era, without resorting to caricature. Listeners will hear the gentle humor, the subtle melancholy, and the moral undercurrents that have made these stories endure for generations. It is a charming yet thoughtful journey into a rich oral tradition.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (279K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2000-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1848–1908
Best known for bringing the Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remus tales to a wide audience, this Georgia writer blended newspaper work with a deep interest in storytelling and folklore. His books became enormously popular in the late 19th century and still shape conversations about American literature and cultural memory.
View all books
by Joel Chandler Harris

by Joel Chandler Harris

by Joel Chandler Harris

by Joel Chandler Harris

by Joel Chandler Harris

by Joel Chandler Harris

by Joel Chandler Harris

by Joel Chandler Harris