Thomas Nelson Page 
Old Jabe’s Marital Experiments [EPUB ebook] 
1908

Thomas Nelson Page (1853-1922) was an American lawyer and author, best known for his role as one of the foremost proponents of the ‘Plantation tradition’ in Southern literature. Born on April 23, 1853, in Hanover County, Virginia, Page’s upbringing amidst the upheavals of the Civil War and Reconstruction era influenced his nostalgic portrayal of the antebellum South. Page’s works often romanticized the lives of African Americans and the aristocratic class of the Old South, a perspective that reflected and reinforced the attitudes of the Lost Cause movement. His literary style is characterized by a sentimental and elegiac tone, replete with dialect and rich depictions of Southern life. ‘Old Jabe’s Marital Experiments’ is one example of Page’s fiction that uses local color to explore themes of loyalty, heritage, and the societal changes in the South during the late 19th century. Other significant works by Page include ‘Marse Chan’ and ‘In Ole Virginia’, both of which contributed to his reputation for idealizing Southern antebellum culture. Though Page’s work was popular in his time, modern criticism often focuses on the inherent racial issues and the perpetuation of stereotypes in his writing. Throughout his life, Page practiced law, engaged in diplomacy as the U.S. ambassador to Italy, and wrote extensively, leaving behind a legacy that provides valuable insights into the cultural narratives of the postbellum American South.