Savage! Shocking! That's what it says on the cover and that's what you get, gentle reader. Kyle Onstott is the author of
Mandingo and for those who have read the book or seen the movie, you know what to expect.
Falconhurst Fancy takes place several years before the events of
Mandingo and is the story of the Verder family of Dove Cote and The Patch plantations. Dovie Verder, our heroine, after tragic events, buys a "pure black stud" for her plantation. Named Colt, he is called a "fancy" because of his rare beauty and strength. Instead of breeding him with her "wenches", hot pants Dovie decides she wants him for herself and everything goes to hell at a quick pace.
I am not sure how to categorize this novel. It fits best as southern gothic horror, if anything. The twisted southern morals of the time are revolting and cruel. One can hope that most of this is exaggeration, but there is a large grain of truth to all of this that leads the reader to really examine the institution of slavery and what led up to race relations as they are today. Why is it when a Black man dates outside his race, it's thought of as a move up, like a weird racial promotion, while Black women are looked down upon for dating outside of their race? The issue is deeper than this type of novel can explain, but the fundamental truths are there.
Stereotypes abound- the pure, gentle southern woman who knows nothing about sex and becomes a fornicating fiend capable of every type of debauchery once she is deflowered; the crafty white-trash scoundrel who hires himself out to plantations as a stud (!!) to produce "yeller" skinned children who are more prized on the slave market; the genteel southern gentlemen who hold their women in the highest esteem, while satisfying their lust with their Black slave women.
Falconhurst Fancy is exploitative trash through and through. That's what makes it such a compelling read! I finished it in 3 days!! Admittedly, I am a fan of this type of garbage. I am collecting all the books written by Kyle Onstott, Lance Horner, Ashley Carter, and Saliee O'Brien (O'Brien's works are more tasteful, but just as explosive and macabre.) Fearless readers, dig in!
Book club members, our next book is
The Night of the Moonbow by Thomas Tryon. More racism, yay!
book review
