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Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee

A Novel

Raymond Andrews author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University of Georgia Press

Published:1st Apr '88

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee cover

This novel explores the life of Rosiebelle Lee, revealing her secrets and the complexities of black life in the Deep South over four decades.

Set in the early 20th century, Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee unfolds in the small North Georgia community of Appalachee. The story begins in 1906 with the arrival of a captivating woman described as 'acorn-brown,' who seeks directions to the residence of the wealthiest white man in town. This pivotal moment marks the beginning of a rich tapestry of life that spans four decades, encompassing love, struggle, and the complexities of race relations in the Deep South.

As the narrative progresses, we follow the life of Rosiebelle Lee, who, after nurturing a family of four children and countless grandchildren, finds herself on her deathbed. With her passing imminent, she prepares to unveil the secrets that have shaped her life and the lives of those around her. The novel is a poignant exploration of the intersection of personal and communal histories, revealing the hidden depths of a woman's experiences against the backdrop of societal change.

Through a blend of humor and tragedy, Raymond Andrews’s Rosiebelle Lee Wildcat Tennessee captures the essence of black life in the South from the end of World War I to the dawn of the 1960s. The story resonates with the struggles and triumphs of its characters, shedding light on a time when the world was on the brink of transformation, and the pendulum of history was about to swing.

Having settled Momma Rosiebelle (as she is generally known) on her deathbed, Mr. Andrews works his way through the lives of all her offspring—freckled and black, mousy and raffish, proud masters of everything from a mule to a motorcar to a pig that trees possums—as they troop and ramble along diverse routes to her bedside. Mr. Andrews knows just how far to stretch this audience's memory as he spins and weaves his colorful yarns.


This novel presents us with a folk heroine larger than life and at the same time basic as grits and gravy.


Lord, Lord! Raymond Andrews has done it again.

ISBN: 9780820309941

Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 18mm

Weight: 395g

264 pages