Frank Jerby it was a popular African American writer, author of novels both romantic as historical. Settled in Spain since the mid-50s, died in Madrid a day like today of 1991. Surely we all have a title of yours on the shelves at home, so I review some of his books to remember it.
Frank Jerby
It was of white mother and black father and was born in 1906 in Augusta, Georgia. He began publishing in some of the most prestigious cultural magazines such as Harper's Magazine, and won some awards. TO yerby he is considered the first African-American author to get a best-seller published in the United States. Went with While the city sleeps.
yerby left in 1955 in protest of racial discrimination in his country and decided to come to Spain, where he stayed and continued his literary career. He dealt with various topics and at the beginning of the 70s he took up those of racism and the history of African slaves in his country of origin.
He stood out for the deep documentation of his novels, but he liked anonymity and he barely gave interviews. He was the author with whom the Planeta publishing house started. He died in Madrid and is buried in a small tomb of the La Almudena cemetery, as expressly requested.
His work
yerby achieved success and become a master of the historical novel at a time when it was not yet fashionable. Their Topics, although with predilection for the southern United States between the revolution and the Civil War, they were almost above all times: the war of the Peloponnesus, Medieval, French Revolution, the Judea of Jesus Christ ... To our country dedicated two novels, Smell of Holiness, on Islamic Spain, and Una rose for Ana María, on the Transition.
While the city sleeps
The novel begins with a man abandoned in the middle of nowhere in the greater Mississippi, named Stephen fox, Irish, who can perfectly symbolize the perfect immigrant which is established in America, a favorite over the Mexican or the Italian. Of nothing, and with some help from luck and his skill with the cards, he manages to build a farm and a large house through which all kinds of framed events in the historical strip that goes from 1826 at the end of the Civil War.
The Devil's laugh
Jeans, the son of a wealthy Marseille shipowner, is a determined opponent of the society in which he has lived. A noble promised to his sister crosses his path and robs her lover. But when jean wants revenge, he only manages to fall in love with the nobleman's young sister. At the same time, Jean will be a witness and protagonist of the Revolution you have waited so long, but you are also going to be disappointed
A woman called fantasy
With female protagonist, tells us the story of Fancy, a girl of great beauty, sharp intelligence and great firm will. But when faced with a arranged marriage for his father, he runs away from home. Upon arriving at Augusta, in the murky atmosphere of 1880, there are many suitors who come to the step, but Fancy is only in love with Court, whom you will marry after overcoming multiple difficulties and fight against many prejudices.
The bride of freedom
With the bottom of the American War of Independence, Yerby mixes here facts and historical figures such as George Washington and many others with the fiction of the story starring the two sisters Kathy and Polly Knowles. Both, very different in character, are in love with the same man: Ethan Page, a supporter of the freedom of his people and for which he is willing to die.
Kathy is a bitch who plays with each other according to their interests. But Polly follows Ethan through the battlefields, helping him in dangers and saving him from dying on several occasions, even knowing that when the war is over, Ethan is sure to turn his attention to Kathy.