'Gone with the Wind' prequel will focus on the character of Mammy
Readers will soon be able to view the famous story of 鈥�Gone with the Wind鈥� by Margaret Mitchell through the eyes of an unexpected character: Scarlett鈥檚 slave Mammy.
The Mitchell estate has authorized writer Donald McCaig to write a novel, titled 鈥淩uth鈥檚 Journey鈥� (Ruth is Mammy鈥檚 real name in this telling), that details how the character is brought to America as a slave and how she views the events of Mitchell鈥檚 original novel. McCaig鈥檚 novel 鈥淩hett Butler鈥檚 People,鈥� which was released in 2007 and explores the childhood and family history of 鈥淲ind鈥� romantic hero Rhett, was one of two books previously authorized by the Mitchell estate, with author Alexandra Ripley鈥檚 鈥淪carlett鈥� also approved.
鈥淩uth鈥� is set to be published by Simon & Schuster via its imprint Atria Books in October.
鈥淚t was Donald鈥檚 idea, instead of doing another sequel, to go backwards,鈥� Atria editorial director Peter Borland told the . 鈥淗e felt that Mammy was such a fascinating and crucial character to the book. He wanted to flesh out a story of her own.鈥澛�
According to Borland, McCaig鈥檚 novel doesn鈥檛 shy away from the racial themes embedded in the world of 鈥淲ind.鈥�
鈥淲hat鈥檚 really remarkable about what Donald has done is that it鈥檚 a book that respects and honors its source material, but it also provides a necessary correction to what is one of the more troubling aspects of the book, which is how the black characters are portrayed,鈥� he said.
The actress who portrayed Mammy in the 1939 film version of 鈥淲ind,鈥� Hattie McDaniel, became the first African-American to win an Oscar when she was given the Best Supporting Actress prize for her role.
