Ruth's Journey

The Authorized Novel of Mammy from Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind

By: Donald McCaig

Narrated by: Cherise Boothe

Length: 13 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Authorized by the Margaret Mitchell Estate, here is the first-ever prequel to one of the most beloved and best-selling novels of all time, Gone with the Wind. The critically acclaimed author of Rhett Butler's People magnificently recounts the life of Mammy, one of literature's greatest supporting characters, from her days as a slave girl to the outbreak of the Civil War.

"Her story began with a miracle." On the Caribbean island of Saint Domingue, an island consumed by the flames of revolution, a senseless attack leaves only one survivor - an infant girl. She falls into the hands of two French émigrés, Henri and Solange Fournier, who take the beautiful child they call Ruth to the bustling American city of Savannah.

What follows is the sweeping tale of Ruth's life as shaped by her strong-willed mistress and other larger-than-life personalities she encounters in the South: Jehu Glen, a free black man with whom Ruth falls madly in love; the shabbily genteel family that first hires Ruth as Mammy; Solange's daughter Ellen and the rough Irishman, Gerald O'Hara, whom Ellen chooses to marry; the Butler family of Charleston and their shocking connection to Mammy Ruth; and finally Scarlett O'Hara - the irrepressible Southern belle Mammy raises from birth. As we witness the difficult coming of age felt by three generations of women, gifted storyteller Donald McCaig reveals a portrait of Mammy that is both nuanced and poignant, at once a proud woman and a captive, and a strict disciplinarian who has never experienced freedom herself. But despite the cruelties of a world that has decreed her a slave, Mammy endures, a rock in the river of time.

Set against the backdrop of the South from the 1820s until the dawn of the Civil War, here is a remarkable story of fortitude, heartbreak, and indomitable will - and a tale that will forever illuminate your reading of Margaret Mitchell's unforgettable classic, Gone with the Wind.

©2014 Stephens Mitchell Trusts. All rights reserved. (P)2014 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Good addition to the GWTW series.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The beginning was slow and at times hard to follow. The first part of the book, was told from Scarlett o hara grandma solange's pov. A bit boring until ruth or Mammy get old enough to tell her story. There was also a lot of death, wives dying and children dying and heartbreak galore.

If you’ve listened to books by Donald McCaig before, how does this one compare?

I personal liked Rhett's story better but that was because I knew the chracters.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I think she did well, crossing the many different chracter that were in the book.the evolution of Miss Katie into Scarlett seemed disjointed in the scheme of things. From GWTW I gathered Scarlett didn't like horses touch and this book has her jumping and out racing Beatrice Tarlelton.

Was Ruth's Journey worth the listening time?

I don't know if I would read it if I wasn't a GWTW fan.

Any additional comments?

The most interesting part was when Ruth was in Charleston. I won't give away the spoilers but it broke my heart when she was on the auction block.

Not for those who follow canon.

Did the writer read Gone with the Wind, or did they simply take elements of it? The Mitchell estate could not have read this whole book. Overall, this book is disjointed. If they were going to write this book from the character's perspective, it should have been that way from the start. Even if they only wanted to tell the story, they should have had at least one sentence about the main character before jumping into the background. If they were going to have part of the narrative in slave English they should have done it from the beginning or not ar all. Also they change important points. Scarlett never would have behaved the way she did if Mammy was at the barbecue. I like some of the story lines of what might have been before Scarlett was born, but the writer made Grandma Robillard spirited without making her lovable. The voiceover artist has a decent voice, but has no idea how to pronounce Eulalie, who is prominent in this book. My personal ire is that she did not pronounce Godet properly either. The people producing this should be ashamed.

another awesome back story

at first I was slightly confused a bout the characters but quickly caught on. the story of how "mammy" came to America and eventually ended up with the
O 'Hara"s was exceptional! a great look at behind the scenes of a truly great novel!

It Took Me Back

I loved the story. Mamie is one of my favorite characters of all time so to have her history is needed. My only regret is that I did not read this book before Gone With the Wind. This book does leave me wanting more. With all of the characters in the book there must be more.

Too condescending

I realize this was written from a slave girl's perspective but the use of language was a put down and far too primitive for a girl who also spoke some French as well.

Oh my!

I LOVED this book and LOVED the reader’s excellent shift in accent and voice. Just wonderful!!!

The tie in to GWTW was superb.

From Ruth’s upbringing and her life journey to Tara in it’s “glory days” is a perfect prequel to GWTW.

Worth the read!

I did expect long passages about how Ruth obtained her etiquette knowledge. It was enjoyable reading a different point of the happenings at Tara.

Excellent

I read The Black Pirate right before this, which happens to leave off right before Napoleon flattens Santa Domingo. This story of Ruth just by chance picks up where that book had left off! This was such an excellent story, the narration was very good, and the book leaves off where the next one will pick up. I took a chance, and I'm so glad I did with this book. what a beautiful insight into such an important character.

The details… ❤️

I absolutely was consumed by this book. I have always loved the character of Mami how traveled through the story, and to find out her history, her life, her thoughts, her feelings, and what she truly stood for, was very invigorating. I highly recommend this book, if you have enjoyed the history of the Civil War And the characters of gone with the wind.