Loading AI tools
1993 historical fiction novel by Gary Paulsen From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nightjohn is a 1993 historical fiction novel by American author Gary Paulsen.[1] It is about Southern American slavery shortly before the time of the American Civil War. In 1996, it was later made into a movie of the same name.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2015) |
Author | Gary Paulsen |
---|---|
Language | English |
Series | Nightjohn series |
Genre | Historical novel |
Publisher | Delacorte Press |
Publication date | 1993 |
Publication place | United States |
Media type | Print (Paperback & Hardback) |
Pages | 92 |
Followed by | Sarny |
The novel is set on a plantation owned by a man named Waller in the Southern United States in the early 1850s. The narrator and protagonist of the story is a young female African-American slave named Sarny. Sarny first sees Nightjohn when he is brought to the plantation with a rope around his neck, his body covered in scars. He had escaped to the North for freedom, but knowing that the penalty for reading is dismemberment, John still returned to slavery to teach others how to read. Twelve-year-old Sarny is willing to learn. So, at night and whenever he has the chance, John begins teaching Sarny the letters of the English alphabet. After teaching her 8 letters (A to H), Walter catches Sarny writing in the dirt and punishes John for teaching her by cutting off the toes from each of his feet. But then after three days of recuperating, John runs and makes it to freedom.
He later returns to fetch Sarny and take her to "pit school" in the night, where she sees and learns what a catalog is, learns the rest of the letters, and has acquired great knowledge- something no one can take away from her. Since John comes at night, he is called Nightjohn. This book was followed by a sequel called Sarny, a Life Remembered in 1998
The novel was adapted as a TV film which aired on the Disney Channel starring Carl Lumbly as John, Beau Bridges as the slaveholder, and introducing Allison Jones as Sarny. It was directed by Charles Burnett.[2]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.