The Complete Short Stories of Charles W. Chesnutt, African American Fiction Writer

FAIN: FT-62169-14

Sarah Wagner-McCoy
Reed College (Portland, OR 97202-8138)

With the support of the NEH, I will compile and edit Charles W. Chesnutt's complete short stories, written between 1875 and 1930. Studies of Chesnutt, the first major African American fiction writer, have gained considerable momentum in recent decades. However, his short stories have never been published in a complete collection. By calling attention to Chesnutt's exploration of disparate cultural and ethnic identities, this edition complements the goals of the NEH’s Bridging Cultures initiative. Chesnutt's short fiction represents not only the complex racial history of the US but also the politics of cultural influences ranging from Yoruba trickster traditions to Ovidian metamorphoses. A comprehensive edition of Chesnutt's stories would not only impact scholarship and teaching but also introduce a wide range of readers to a powerful African American voice from the turn of the twentieth century.