J. C. Furnas (1905–2001)

I really enjoyed this book, a catalog record at the Library of Congress (#59-7518). Published in 1961 by the Rutgers University Press and containing short fiction as well as nonfiction, it can be best described as an anthology of New Jerseyana. Among its more interesting stories and articles are a few ghost stories written by Stephen Crane before he hit it big with his most famous work; contemporary accounts of the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton; and an account of what is considered the first American football game ever played. The book is very interesting reading, especially for someone from New Jersey.… (mehr)

Actually an interesting book, if a bit strange. Not so much because of its commentary on race, but for the long and strange history of productions of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and the birth of professional "Tommers" on the American Scene. Reading this book actually gave me a lot of insight, afterwards, when reading books written from 1890 - 1940. They have offhanded mentions to "Tommer's" or "Eliza crossin the Ice" and I would have never caught the meaning or relevance without this book. Productions of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was such a phenomenon that people made their living traveling as "Tommers" and putting on local productions across the nation (and world). It was also considered, after 1915, to be the lowest rung on the theater circuit. These productions played in the smallest towns, mining camps, and puritian towns that either didn't allow theater troups or were to small to attract real ones. Because of the "Christian Morals and Message" supposedly incapsulated in the play people who were normally taught to view theater going as a sin were allowed to see this one production. Any actor of the peroid could do the play by rote memory it was so common and popular around the country. The story of how it became common currency in the American venacular is more interesting than you would think. Not at all what I expected from this book, but was happily suprised and enlightened. It also has some interesting history going back to plantation life and mores at the beginning of the book, but I found the theater history of "Tommers" along with its social significance/relevance (which is a large part of the book) the most interesting feature of the book.… (mehr)