Strong Hearts

George Washington Cable merges the poetry of South Louisiana and religion of the soul in this collection of short stories. Cable tests his characters' spirits, highlighting their capability for tremendous strength. "The Solitary," "The Taxidermist," and "The Entomologist" all take place in Southern Louisiana and include Creole and post-Civil War characters. In this collection, Cable exposes his own philosophy on life and morality. He reaches into the depths of the soul by examining the surface of the heart. These are stories with feeling told from a singularly Southern voice.

The first is about a Civil War soldier who lets fear rule his life. He is a "crackedfiddle" with stage fright, and he lets his timidity and hesitation keep him from his sweetheart. Cable introduces the reader to the haunted memories of a soldier, the unpredictabilty of hurricanes, and resilance of the human spirit. The second story involves an unsual friendhip between a deacon and taxidermist. Cable gives the reader a taste of the Creole tongue, a glimpse of old New Orleans, and renewed belief in hope. "The Entomolgist" is a tale of bugs and betrayal. The narrator notices as two couples' lives intertwine, and he watches as the fates unravel them.

A new foreword by noted Lyle Saxon scholar Chance Harvey provides insight into both the author and the prevailing themes of the time. Her comments provide a lamp with which to truly appreciate these masterful stories of the early twentieth century.