Paul Laurence Dunbar 
Lyrics of the Hearthside 

First published in 1899, ’Lyrics of the Hearthside’ is a collection of poetry by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906). Dunbar was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet during the turn of the 20th century. Born to ex-slave parents, Dunbar began writing at a very early age and had even published his first poems by the age of 16 in a local newspaper. Much of his work was written in the ’African-American Vernacular’ associated with the antebellum South, although he also employed conventional English in his novels and poems. Dunbar was among the very first African-American writers to garner international acclaim for their work. This volume contains a collection of Dunbar’s powerful poetry for the enjoyment of a new generation. A fantastic collection that offers a unique glimpse into the lives of African Americans at the turn of the century. Contents include: ’Love’s Apotheosis’, ’The Paradox’, ’Over the Hills’, ’With the Lark’, ’In Summer’, ’The Mystic Sea’, ’A Sailor’s Song’, ’The Bohemian’, ’Absence’, ’Her Thought and His’, ’The Right to Die’, etc. Other notable works by this author include: ’Oak and Ivy’ (1892), ’Majors and Minors’ (1896), and ’Lyrics of Lowly Life’ (1896). Ragged Hand are proudly republishing this classic collection of poetry, complete with a specially-commissioned new biography of the author.