Cudjo's Cave
by J. T. Trowbridge
On This Page
Description
Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Cudjo's Cave chronicles the brutalities and fears faced by unionists, loyal to Abraham Lincoln and the federal cause, living in secessionist states politically aligned with the Confederacy. Set in 1861 in a fictionalized rural village in east Tennessee, the story revolves around four main characters who find themselves trapped together with other unionists in "Cudjo's Cave." Penn Hapgood is a Quaker schoolmaster who openly voices his show more antislavery sentiments and support for the Union but refuses to fight even when faced with the probability of being shot for his stance. Virginia Villars, a clergyman's daughter who loves Hapgood, is hotly pursued by the sinister planter and slave master Augustus Blythewood. Pomp, an intelligent man trained as a doctor, is a runaway slave, and Cudjo, another runaway who has been dehumanized by slavery's violence, still risks all to save others. John Townsend Trowbridge's fine literary skill and storytelling ability lift the Victorian plot. He artfully maps out many of the cultural and political tensions regarding the issues of slavery and secession, giving the reader access to the popular sentiments of the period. More important, he offers a rare 19th-century depiction of a character of full African descent as a strong, intelligent leader. Released to popular acclaim in the summer of 1863, this novel was designed to awaken patriotism in northern citizens wearied by the losses of conflict and to refocus attention on the moral purposes of the war--emancipation of the slaves. Like Uncle Tom's Cabin, this stimulating story contributed vital power to the success of the Union war effort. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
An antislavery novel, the story revolves around an escaped slave named Pomp who hides out in a cave in the woods. The cave becomes the refuge and meeting place for a motley crew including Cudjo, another runaway, but one lacking Pomp's sensibility and sense of honor. The character studies and vivid scenes bring to life one of the most shameful periods in American history.
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Fiction (Mostly) in Selective Bibliography of American Literature 1775-1900
431 works; 3 members
Author Information
36+ Works 230 Members
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 813.4 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English Later 19th Century 1861-1900
- LCC
- PZ7 .T76 .C — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 29
- Popularity
- 956,816
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (5.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 7
