The Complete Tales of Uncle Remus

Live the stories of br’er rabbit, br’er fox, br’er bear and all the rest. The book arrived with a tear on the dusk jacket. Probably due to packaging.

This is one of the best books ever written anywhere by anyone. Personally, I place it among the Taoist classics. Be that as it may, if you don't read it you'll never know what you're missing. If you're looking for crazy wisdom, it's all in here, but don't overlook the ridiculous either because this book will probably put you in stitches, and I ain't just whistlin' Dixie.

King James version of the Bible, Milton's Paradise Lost, Madison Hamilton Jefferson, Homer's works, the Sayings of Confuscius, Aesop's Fables, Don Quixote, Walt Whitman's poems, Shakespeare, Tolkien's works, Victor Hugo --- and Joel Chandler Harris certainly belongs in this firmament. No literate American can claim to be fully educated without having heard and read aloud these stories.

Joel Chandler Harris is all anyone needs to know to get a great introduction to and immersion in the folk tales and dialects of the southeastern US. The tales are charming, amusing, instructive. The presentation lives up to the standard set by the tales. Harris had an excellent ear for the rhythms and sounds, and although the text may be difficult to read at times, the effort is well rewarded. The book also contains a glossary of terms that may not be familiar to today's reader. If there is still difficulty, reading the text aloud will alleviate most of them.

You may think you know these tales, but this book is worth a quiet, relaxed weeks-long read. Harris clearly loved and respected the people, cultures and stories. Some are not funny, and some hilarious. Many touch on metaphysical subjects without being obvious. Uncle Remus is almost like Jane Roberts' "Seth" entity: Centered, caring, wise, full of love and life, and leading the reader to find fresh ideas each time one looks again.