The Sport of the Gods (AmazonClassics Edition)

The Sport of the Gods by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a novel that depicts the struggles of an African-American family when they move up North from the South. The author demonstrates the tough conditions that the Hamilton family has to endure while living in New York City. The novel goes into depth, expounding upon the extreme hardships endured by the Hamilton and the levels of prejudices leading the black family, in particular, and the other blacks to become the target of blame and degradation. The naturalism-focused novel focuses on what the family experiences up North, rather than focusing on their journey there. Their family splits up due to unforeseen circumstances with Berry Hamilton, who is falsely accused and imprisoned for a crime that occurs in his master’s home. Without Berry, the family struggles to stay together and to stay away from temptation, demonstrating everyday life in an urban environment...as the family is split up at the end of the novel - when Berry returns to his wife - there is left nothing but sadness in the end.

Before this book I was only aware of Dunbar through two of his collections of poetry, Lyrics of Lowly Life and Poems of Cabin and Field. The Sport of the Gods demonstrates that Dunbar was a fine prose writer as well. The story kept me intrigued throughout.

I don't rate books because I'm not a critic.

Wow, I am traumatized by what happened to this family. The cruelty and destruction of relationships was displayed throughout this book with impunity!

It was beautifully written. I can't say I enjoyed the story. Even what seemed to be a happy ending was sad. This book tells the story of I guess the beginnings of racial profiling and the new Jim Crow - the criminal justice system. We look into the lives of a family torn apart by their father being imprisoned off being a thief. That's all I'm going to say. Hope my review doesn't ruin the book for anyone.

This novel is wonderfully written and profound in its message. Dunbar's prose is as excellent as his poetry. A must-read classic for high schoolers and undergraduates. Would make a wonderful juxtaposition alongside today's street lit.

my own personal use.

Sport of the Goss was a very interesting book and a page turner.

The sad story of a southern Black family whose fortunes fail as their patriarch is wrongly accused of a theft. Although the father is eventually cleared of the crime, so much tragedy is visited upon the family it hardly seems that justice has been done.Despite the sad nature of the tale it is well written and is certainly worth a read.