Every Tongue Got to Confess Audiobook By Zora Neale Hurston cover art

Every Tongue Got to Confess

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Every Tongue Got to Confess

By: Zora Neale Hurston
Narrated by: Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis
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Every Tongue Got to Confess is an extensive volume of African American folklore that Zora Neale Hurston collected on her travels through the Gulf States in the late 1920s. The bittersweet and often hilarious tales, which range from longer narratives about God, the Devil, white folk, and mistaken identity to witty one-liners, reveal attitudes about faith, love, family, slavery, race, and community.

Together, this collection of nearly 500 folktales weaves a vibrant tapestry that celebrates African American life in the rural South and represents a major part of Zora Neale Hurston's literary legacy.

©2001 Vivian Hurston Bowden, Clifford J. Hurston, Jr., Edgar Hurston, Sr., Winifred Hurston Clark, Lois Hurston Gaston, Lucy Anne Hurston, Barbara Hurston Lewis. John Edgar Wideman (Foreword) Carla Kaplan (Introduction) (P)2001 Harper Audio African American African American Studies Americas Anthropology Black & African American Fairy Tales Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences Specific Demographics United States World Literature Magic Tradition Africa Witty

Critic reviews

"With this new collection, Hurston provides an even greater sense of the black oral tradition, which demands appreciation and admiration." ( Library Journal)
"Invaluable tales of mischief and wisdom, spirit and hope." ( Booklist)
Authentic Narration • Rich Figurative Language • Humorous Storytelling • Varied Folk Tales • Emotional Depth
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Ruby and Ozzie were a perfect choice to narrate these amazing works of art!! The cadences and accents they used really brought these folk tales to life! I could see myself sitting on a porch somewhere down south just listening these tales for hours! Loved the experience!

Wonderful short stories

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I absolutely loved it!
I'll listen to it again and again.
I'll also share it.

A delightful listen. Reminds me of my parents.

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The greatest American acting couple on both stage and screen bring great authenticity to their readings of the great American novelist Zora Neale Huston's well researched reporting of many traditional American folktales and fables. I wish audible would offer Ossie Davis's reading of Muhammed Ali's literate autobiography Soul Of A Butterfly. Ruby Dee is warmly loved by all and their readings here open widely hearts and minds and souls.

Great American writer as read authentically

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the narration was great I like Ruby Dee and Ozzy Davis the storytelling was funny at points and serious and others

I truly enjoyed this I recommend

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Zora Neale Hurston’s ability to capture the rich use of figurative language, wisdom, humor, and sentiment of folk tales from people who inhabited little known areas of the south is a testament to her incredible skills as an anthropologist. This reader felt a range of emotions from appreciation for how life lessons were passed from one generation to another, to tales that showcased hyperbolic, fantastical imaginings. Miss Hurston captures the full use of language of the time period is raw based upon the speaker and at times makes one cringe. It is also undeniable the spotlight placed on the type of interactions that existed between males and females, and between African Americans and Caucasians.

Zesty, Delightful Southern Folk Tales

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I have heard most of the stories before in "Hitting a Straight Lick with a Crooked Stick, but Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, bring the stories to life.

A simple smile

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I loved listening to Rubie Dee and Ossie Davis narrate this book. It was fun to listen to!

Great Book to listen to!

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I love the audiobook. I love the fact each story is sometimes a relating to individual experience, but the quality needed to be crisper.

a unique perspective about folklore

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Wonderful stories! Previous reviews rate poor sound quality. I disagree, I think it's clear. Volume is just a little low. I'm glad I decided to give it a chance. The stories are funny, poignant, sweet. They are treasures of our culture!

Excellent!

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I used some of these tales in a folk tale and mythology section of a class I teach. I love the variety of the stories, as well as how they are organized in this collection. Definitely a book I will come back to every now and then...

A Wonderfully Eccentric Collection

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