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McKenzie's Hundred
Having grown up on the plantation called McKenzie's Hundred, Gwen and Ann McKenzie both become caught up in the tragedy of the Civil War, Rose as a Confederate spy, and Gwen as the mainstay of the plantation during the war
377 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1985
About the author
Frank Yerby
129 books118 followersBorn in Augusta, Georgia to Rufus Garvin Yerby, an African American, and Wilhelmina Smythe, who was caucasian. He graduated from Haines Normal Institute in Augusta and graduated from Paine College in 1937. Thereafter, Yerby enrolled in Fisk University where he received his Master's degree in 1938. In 1939, Yerby entered the University of Chicago to work toward his doctorate but later left the university. Yerby taught briefly at Florida A&M University and at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Frank Yerby rose to fame as a writer of popular fiction tinged with a distinctive southern flavor. In 1946 he became the first African-American to publish a best-seller with The Foxes of Harrow. That same year he also became the first African-American to have a book purchased for screen adaptation by a Hollywood studio, when 20th Century Fox optioned Foxes. Ultimately the book became a 1947 Oscar-nominated film starring Rex Harrison and Maureen O'Hara. Yerby was originally noted for writing romance novels set in the Antebellum South. In mid-century he embarked on a series of best-selling novels ranging from the Athens of Pericles to Europe in the Dark Ages. Yerby took considerable pains in research, and often footnoted his historical novels. In all he wrote 33 novels.
Frank Yerby rose to fame as a writer of popular fiction tinged with a distinctive southern flavor. In 1946 he became the first African-American to publish a best-seller with The Foxes of Harrow. That same year he also became the first African-American to have a book purchased for screen adaptation by a Hollywood studio, when 20th Century Fox optioned Foxes. Ultimately the book became a 1947 Oscar-nominated film starring Rex Harrison and Maureen O'Hara. Yerby was originally noted for writing romance novels set in the Antebellum South. In mid-century he embarked on a series of best-selling novels ranging from the Athens of Pericles to Europe in the Dark Ages. Yerby took considerable pains in research, and often footnoted his historical novels. In all he wrote 33 novels.
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August 9, 2021
If Wikipedia is to be believed, this was Frank Yerby’s last book. It was published in 1985 and Yerby died in 1991. It’s vintage Yerby: a soap opera in crinoline (and Yerby has something to say about fashions of the time).
This novel has a young lady for the lead. Like other Yerby characters she is unconventional and doesn’t care what other people think about it. The setting is Old Virginny in the War Between the States. There’s romance a-plenty and, Yerby’s real strength, fabulous history concerning arms manufacture, the battles, European aristocracy, agriculture, hot-air balloons, and the forerunners to Nazism. Generals Lee and Jackson put in cameo appearances. Admittedly the romance is rather trivial and follows much the same pattern as is in his other novels. Come for the history.
This novel has a young lady for the lead. Like other Yerby characters she is unconventional and doesn’t care what other people think about it. The setting is Old Virginny in the War Between the States. There’s romance a-plenty and, Yerby’s real strength, fabulous history concerning arms manufacture, the battles, European aristocracy, agriculture, hot-air balloons, and the forerunners to Nazism. Generals Lee and Jackson put in cameo appearances. Admittedly the romance is rather trivial and follows much the same pattern as is in his other novels. Come for the history.
Displaying 1 of 1 review