The Goodness of St. Rocque, and Other Stories

"The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories" by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson is a collection of fictional short stories written during the late 19th century. The opening tale, "The Goodness of St. Rocque," introduces readers to Manuela, a beautiful Creole girl navigating a tumultuous love life. Struggling with heartbreak over Theophile's infidelity, Manuela seeks solace and guidance through religious traditions associated with St. Rocque, the patron saint of lovers. The beginning of the collection sets the stage for a vibrant depiction of Creole life, emphasizing themes of love, devotion, and superstition. Manuela is characterized by her grace and poise, but her emotional turmoil is palpable after having been abandoned for another woman. The narrative unfolds with her desperate quest to reclaim her lover through traditional charms and prayers, highlighting the cultural richness of her surrounding environment. As she interacts with various characters including a card reader and her friends, the story intertwines personal emotional struggle with a broader commentary on societal norms and expectations in a captivating way. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alice Dunbar Nelson was an American poet, journalist, and political activist. Among the first generation of African Americans born free in the Southern United States after the end of the American Civil War, she was one of the prominent African Americans involved in the artistic flourishing of the Harlem Renaissance. Her first husband was the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. After his death, she married physician Henry A. Callis; and, lastly, was married to Robert J. Nelson, a poet and civil rights activist. She achieved prominence as a poet, author of short stories and dramas, newspaper columnist, women's rights activist, and editor of two anthologies.