The First Fig Tree

by Vivian Glover

As America prepares for World War II, an elderly Black woman reminisces to her great-granddaughter about her childhood as a slave and the Civil War that freed her as her stories reveal the realities of life in a segregated South

Genres: Fiction

222 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 1988

About the author

Born in Orangeburg, North Carolina, she attended high school in Camden, New Jersey, took a degree at Temple University, Pennsylvania, and did graduate studies in political science at Universidad de las Americas, Puebla Mexico. She has worked in radio for many years and more recently in publishing. She has lived for some years in Wiltshire, England, with her child.

(from Daughters of Africa, edited by Margaret Busby)

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautifully written book with a very poignant ending. I loved the character of the old woman, but confess I never really grew to like the little girl character very much. I understood why she was the way she was...but her anger kept her at a distance from me.

[Janet Kozachek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant tale about race and class, told through the endearing relationship of a young girl and her great-grandmother. Humanity and empathy burst through in the most unexpected places. The book moved me.

[Mingma Sherpa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good? Amazing. Glover makes the read flow easy and the storytelling is amazing. It's a story about a bond between a grandmother and a granddaughter that will warm your heart.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is the start of WWII and Ellen, a former slave, has been moved to her daughter's house to live. Her daughter also has her young granddaughter living with her. The old woman and the young girl forge a bond. The old woman is a gentle teacher who challenges the young girl to think about the consequences of her actions. Since this story is placed in the South, there are threads of segregation woven throughout. The young girl does not yet know the gift her great grandmother is mother is giving her. The sense of familial heritage being passed to a new generation.

The young girl is never named and I suspect that this book is autobiographical.

I found myself embracing these characters and enjoying the languid pace one expects of a Southern tale.

Unfortunately, I believe that this book is out of print.