Index of the Project Gutenberg Works of Joel Chandler Harris

In Short

This volume serves as a comprehensive structural compass to the collected writings of Joel Chandler Harris, charting his expansive literary output centered on nineteenth-century Georgia. Through tables of contents, story titles, and chapter outlines, it maps a body of work ranging from the famous folklore of Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit to realistic plantation sketches, Civil War adventures, and Reconstruction narratives. The collection endures because it systematically documents a pivotal era of Southern storytelling, capturing the intersection of African American oral traditions, regional humor, local history, and the profound social transformations of the American South.

The Story

The arc of this collected bibliography traces a historical and thematic journey through the heart of Georgia, moving from the mythical origins of plantation folklore to the harsh realities of war and its aftermath. It opens with the timeless animal fables narrated by Uncle Remus to a young boy. Here, the narrative world belongs to Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, Brer Bear, and Brer Terrapin, who engage in an endless battle of wits. Brer Rabbit consistently outsmarts larger, stronger predators through cunning, resourcefulness, and trickery, navigating perilous encounters like the Tar Baby and the briar patch.

As the scope expands, the focus shifts from mythic animal realms to human histories grounded in the antebellum South and the Civil War. Works like On the Plantation follow young Joe Maxwell as he operates a plantation newspaper, witnesses the shadows of war fall over his community, and experiences Georgia fox hunts alongside the realities of deserters and runaways. In Aaron in the Wildwoods, the narrative moves deep into the swamp, detailing the perilous life of an escaped slave hiding in the wilderness, hunted by patrollers, while maintaining a tender connection to a young invalid master.

The sequence then advances into the turbulent era of Reconstruction and its social upheaval. Gabriel Tolliver paints a sweeping canvas of a Georgia town coming to terms with the return of defeated soldiers, the rise of political machines, the establishment of the Union League, and the shadowy presence of the Knights of the White Camellia. Characters struggle to rebuild their lives, form new alliances, and resolve political tension amidst personal heartbreaks and courtships. Across shorter sketches like Mingo, Free Joe, and Balaam and His Master, the long narrative arc culminates in intimate character studies of freedmen, conscripts, and ruined homesteads, offering a full panorama of a society undergoing irreversible transformation from slavery to freedom.

How It Unfolds

The trickster takes the field Brer Rabbit routinely outwits his neighbors through clever ploys, tricking Brer Fox into throwing him into the briar patch and fooling Brer Bear into compromising traps. These early plantation legends establish a world where intelligence and agility triumph over raw physical force.

The shadow of conflict descends Young Joe Maxwell grows up on a Georgia plantation, learning the printing trade on a local newspaper while war looms on the horizon. The routine of fox hunts and storytellers is gradually interrupted by the arrival of army deserters, runaway slaves, and the grim realities of wartime shortages.

Flight into the deep swamp Aaron, a fugitive, escapes into the dense wilderness, navigating hidden paths and avoiding ruthless patrollers who pursue him with hounds. From his secret sanctuary, he maintains a quiet, protective bond with his fragile young master, Little Crotchet, until the boy's tragic death.

Reconstruction sweeps the township Defeated soldiers return to their Georgia home to find political factions, the Union League, and secret societies restructuring their society. Young Gabriel Tolliver navigates political turmoil, legal troubles, and personal romance as his town struggles to adapt to the post-war order.

Reflections on a transformed South Individual lives—such as Free Joe, the devoted servant Balaam, and local townspeople—confront the complex, quiet realities of post-emancipation life. The long historical arc concludes with moving character sketches that examine personal loyalty, poverty, and endurance in a changed world.

The People

• Brer Rabbit, the ultimate folk trickster, wants to survive and outsmart his stronger neighbors. Confronted by constant threats from Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, he relies entirely on his sharp wits, ultimately proving that intelligence overcomes brute strength.
• Uncle Remus, an elder narrator, wants to preserve traditional lore and pass down wisdom to the little boy who visits him. He remains a steadfast, authoritative storyteller whose tales frame the mythic plantation world.
• Joe Maxwell, an observant Georgia youth, wants to master the printing craft and understand the world around him. Standing on the brink of adulthood during the Civil War, he grows into a seasoned witness of his state's darkest conflicts.
• Aaron, a courageous runaway slave, wants his freedom while maintaining his humanity. Pursued by brutal patrollers and hostile conditions in the swamp, he remains a brave, compassionate figure devoted to his young master.
• Gabriel Tolliver, a young veteran returning home, wants to rebuild his life and win the heart of Nan. Blocked by political unrest and post-war strife, he matures through legal trials to become a community leader.

In Its Own Voice

"He to' down a whole panel er fence gittin' 'way fum dar"

An early illustration caption captures the sudden, chaotic violence of an animal escape.

"He git de finest mess er fish you mos' ever laid yo' eyes on"

A line celebrating Brer Terrapin's success highlights the recurring theme of small creatures outsmarting others to secure a living.

"De gal, she cry some, but dey went off an' got married"

A brief caption from the later plantation stories illustrates the understated, plain-spoken resolution of human romance amidst social change.

What It's Really About

Beneath the playful surface of animal fables and regional sketches lies a deep exploration of power dynamics, survival, and social memory. The Brer Rabbit stories serve as a masked commentary on resistance, demonstrating how the powerless can use wit, deception, and language to subvert the absolute authority of the powerful. In the historical and post-war narratives, the central focus shifts to the psychological and social upheaval of the American South. The text grapples with the collapse of the old order, the precarious status of freed individuals in a changing legal landscape, and the tragic friction between personal loyalty and systemic injustice during War and Reconstruction.

Why Read It Today

This work offers an essential roadmap for literary historians, folklorists, and readers interested in nineteenth-century Southern literature and oral traditions. Reading through these compiled contents provides a clear view of how African American folklore was collected, adapted, and popularized for a national audience. The collection captures a distinct dialect, rich regional humor, and vivid period detail, though readers must navigate historic attitudes, racial stereotypes, and archaic vernacular characteristic of its era. For those willing to engage critically with its historic context, the text remains a vital cultural record of American storytelling, trickster mythology, and regional social history.