Under the Man-Fig (Texas Tradition Series, No. 28)

Rating:
Summary: Staring up through the branches, waiting for figs to drop
Review: Stop long enough to notice the clump of old men standing under the shade trees on the courthouse lawn. And listen. Or if they go silent when you approach, notice the murmur that resumes when you're out of earshot. In Thornham, Texas, those up-in-years menfolk standing under that big, old fig tree are the town gossips, and they're ready to pass judgment on anyone in their ken, based on hear-say or outright prevarications. Once the word is out, woe be unto the targets of their barbs of scorn. If you are a sucker for Texana and a good yarn, you won't be disappointed in "Under the Man Fig." Fans of Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, Carson McCullers and Bulwer-Lytton may recognize the meter, dialect and shrouded tone. If you're offended by outdated/unkind/never-appropriate words referring to African-Americans, you'll find plenty to fault in this 1890s novel. But readers who are able to set revisionism aside and accept this work for something true to its era (although over-romanticized here and there) will find much to appreciate. Make sure to absorb the afterword by Sylvia Ann Grider, but I suggest reading it before jumping into the text. It has a whetting effect that makes the book even more enjoyable.