The Conjure Woman

You have come south after the war to buy a ruined vineyard, and the old man on the log advises against it. Julius McAdoo was born enslaved on this land, and for every plan you announce he has a story — a goophered grapevine, a man conjured into a tree — each ending precisely where his interests lie. Chesnutt was the first Black writer the Atlantic published, and he built these tales to cut both ways. What Julius gets for each story is your choice.

Chapters

1. The Northern WinterNorthern Ohio Farmhouse
2. The Sidewheel SouthPatesville Landing
3. The Ruined VineyardSand-Hill Road
4. Julius Under the ElmMcAdoo Plantation Yard
5. Aunt Peggy's WarningMcAdoo Plantation Yard - Julius's Account
6. Henry and the Rising SapMcAdoo Plantation Yard - Julius's Account
7. The Adviser and the VineMcAdoo Plantation Yard - Julius's Account
8. A Vineyard BoughtPatesville Guest Room
9. The Detached KitchenThe Old Schoolhouse
10. Tenie's SecretSawmill Yard - Julius's Account
11. The Sawmill BladeSawmill Yard - Julius's Account
12. A House Kept StandingSawmill Yard - Julius's Account
13. The Spring to Be OpenedMineral Spring Road
14. Jeems and Miss LibbieMineral Spring - Julius's Account
15. The Stranger on TrialMineral Spring - Julius's Account
16. The Roasted Sweet PotatoMineral Spring - Julius's Account
17. The Overseer's BooksMineral Spring - Julius's Account
18. Tom at the BarnMineral Spring and Return Road
19. A Mule for the Sand HillFront Piazza
20. The Pig and the Missing TrackFront Piazza - Julius's Account
21. Sour Wine in the VineyardFront Piazza - Julius's Account
22. The Cabin on the Wilmington RoadFront Piazza - Julius's Account
23. The Horse Behind the StoreVineyard Yard
24. A Settled MelancholyFront Room and Piazza
25. Lightnin' BugFront Piazza - Julius's Account
26. Wings Between PlantationsFront Piazza - Julius's Account
27. The Trade ReversedFront Piazza - Julius's Account
28. The Pocket of the Blue DressFront Drive
29. Rain Over the VineyardVineyard Piazza
30. The Blow on Lumberton RoadVineyard Piazza - Julius's Account
31. The Life Charm Under the OakVineyard Piazza - Julius's Account
32. A Friendly Voice at SundownVineyard Piazza - Julius's Account
33. The Gourd and the BarrelVineyard Piazza - Julius's Account
34. The Last Laugh at the HearthVineyard Piazza - Julius's Account
35. The Howl and the Bee-TreeVineyard Piazza
36. The Quarrel Behind the BlindsFront Piazza
37. Friday at the BranchShort Road
38. The Doll Beneath the SillShort Road - Julius's Account
39. Hot Feet and False NewsShort Road - Julius's Account
40. The Steamboat LetterShort Road - Julius's Account
41. Beneath the WillowShort Road
42. Trunk and ValiseMain Road

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