Excerpt from 'Star Spangled Virgin'
As no other person writing today, DuBose Heyward, with his warm humor and understanding, has caught the essential dignity of spirit of the American Negro. With porgy and mamba's daughters he established for himself a unique position in American letters. Now with STAR spangled virgin he again uses fresh and original material as a basis for a novel of distinction.
The story is of Rhoda and Adam, and how they worked out the pattern of their lives when the New Deal came to the Virgin Islands. The social implications will be startling to many - and satisfying as well - but the author keeps them subordinated by his firm technique and his dexterous byplay of wit. There are riotous moments as the Islanders present Gilbert and Sullivan, as the marriage-protest meeting gets under way, as Rhoda's puzzling assortment of children, Crystal, Treasure, Hoover, Patrick (and Ramsay Mac Donald, who wasn't her child at all) confuse the issue. Mr. Heyward never bewilders us by elaborate dialogue, but tells a vigorous story in tense and exciting prose.
Star Spangled Virgin is a Story with an original theme and setting, a story which leaves the reader confident of the true direction of humanity's deepest emotions - emotions not of minorities, but common to all mankind.
As no other person writing today, DuBose Heyward, with his warm humor and understanding, has caught the essential dignity of spirit of the American Negro. With porgy and mamba's daughters he established for himself a unique position in American letters. Now with STAR spangled virgin he again uses fresh and original material as a basis for a novel of distinction.
The story is of Rhoda and Adam, and how they worked out the pattern of their lives when the New Deal came to the Virgin Islands. The social implications will be startling to many - and satisfying as well - but the author keeps them subordinated by his firm technique and his dexterous byplay of wit. There are riotous moments as the Islanders present Gilbert and Sullivan, as the marriage-protest meeting gets under way, as Rhoda's puzzling assortment of children, Crystal, Treasure, Hoover, Patrick (and Ramsay Mac Donald, who wasn't her child at all) confuse the issue. Mr. Heyward never bewilders us by elaborate dialogue, but tells a vigorous story in tense and exciting prose.
Star Spangled Virgin is a Story with an original theme and setting, a story which leaves the reader confident of the true direction of humanity's deepest emotions - emotions not of minorities, but common to all mankind.
Used availability for DuBose Heyward's Star Spangled Virgin