7 best short stories by Charles W. Chesnutt

Son of "free persons of color," Charles W. Chesnutt was an important voice and the first African-American to gain recognition in literature. Grandson of a white man (probably a slave owner), Chesnutt had lighter skin and for that was commonly mistaken for a white man - a deception he always made a point of undoing, highlighting his heritage and paving the way for those to come. Chesnutt was an important voice in his day and remains a precious reading for those who want to better understand the period of construction of African American identity, from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. Critic August Nemo chose seven short stories that bring the best of this author to your appreciation. The Wife of His Youth The Passing of Grandison Her Virginia Mammy The Bouquet The Sheriffs' Children The Web of Circunstance