'Gone with the Wind' prequel will focus on the character of Mammy
'Rhett Butler's People' writer Donald McCaig's novel 'Ruth's Journey' will be released this October.
'Rhett Butler's People' writer Donald McCaig's novel 'Ruth's Journey' will be released this October.
Readers will soon be able to view the famous story of 鈥淕one 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 New York Times. 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.