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Dark Princess: A Romance (Dover Thrift Editions: Black History) Paperback – May 15, 2024

by W. E. B. Du Bois (Author)

4.6 43 ratings

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W. E. B. Du Bois's Dark Princess is a monumental work that intertwines the themes of racial and political struggle with a captivating love story that transcends continents. This novel explores the depths of societal inequalities and offers a visionary perspective on unity and justice, igniting a powerful discourse on race and class in the early 20th century.

Disillusioned with the United States after being expelled from medical school because of his race, Matthew Towns, a young African American man, moves to Berlin, Germany, where he meets and falls in love with Kautilya, a princess from India. They become members of an international coalition against white imperialism.
Civil rights activist and NAACP cofounder W. E. B. Du Bois dedicated his life to illuminating racial bigotry’s historical, economic, and cultural consequences. Dark Princess, written in the genre of fantasy romance fiction, offered Du Bois an opportunity to fulfill his greatest ambitions, dreams, and longings: eradicating prejudice and discrimination against African Americans and people of color. Although it was not well received when it was first published, the novel is a powerful indictment of white supremacy — and a stirring call for international solidarity among people of color. It has since been rediscovered by scholars and critics who appreciate its bold vision and historical significance.

A Pioneering Narrative on Race and Politics: W. E. B. Du Bois's Dark Princess presents a captivating love story set against the backdrop of global racial and political struggles, providing profound insights into societal inequalities and the fight for justice.
An International Coalition for Change: The protagonists' involvement in an international coalition underscores Du Bois's call for global solidarity among people of color against oppression and white supremacy, reflecting his lifelong commitment to civil rights activism.
Fantasy as a Vehicle for Social Commentary: Dark Princess is celebrated for its innovative approach to addressing complex themes of race, class, equality, and politics through the genre of fantasy romance.
Rediscovering a Monumental Work: Once overlooked, Dark Princess has been rehabilitated by contemporary scholars and critics who recognize its audacious vision and relevance in today's discussions on race, class, and the enduring fight for justice.
Cultural and Historical Impact: This book not only explores the depths of societal inequalities but also sparks a powerful discourse on race and class dynamics, contributing significantly to the understanding and discussions around these issues in the early 20th century and beyond.
A Must-Read for Historians and Literature Enthusiasts: Ideal for those interested in African American history and political science, or those seeking a profoundly moving literary piece that combines historical significance with a love story that challenges and transcends societal norms.
The Legacy of W. E. B. Du Bois: This novel encapsulates Du Bois's unparalleled dedication to dismantling racial bigotry, serving as a testament to his influence as a civil rights activist and cofounder of the NAACP and his belief in the power of literature to inspire change.

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Debuting in 1990, the Thrift Editions library of classic literature is a top choice for teachers, students, librarians, and recreational readers around the world. Dover’s longstanding mission of exceptional value has consistently offered excellence in classic fiction, nonfiction, plays, and poetry.

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From the Publisher

Dark Princess presents a captivating love story set against the backdrop of global racial and political struggles, providing profound insights into societal inequalities and the fight for justice.

Dark Princess, W.E.B. Du Bois, Dover Thrift Editions Black History

A monumental work that intertwines the themes of racial and political struggle with a captivating love story that transcends continents.

A Pioneering Narrative on Race and Politics
An International Coalition for Change
Fantasy as a Vehicle for Social Commentary
Rediscovering a Monumental Work
Cultural and Historical Impact
A Must-Read for Historians and Literature Enthusiasts
The Legacy of W. E. B. Du Bois

Disillusioned with the United States after being expelled from medical school because of his race, Matthew Towns, a young African American man, moves to Berlin, Germany, where he meets and falls in love with Kautilya, a princess from India. They become members of an international coalition against white imperialism.

Civil rights activist and NAACP cofounder W. E. B. Du Bois dedicated his life to illuminating racial bigotry’s historical, economic, and cultural consequences.

Dover Thrift Editions library of classic literature - a long standing mission of exceptional value

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Disillusioned with the United States after being expelled from medical school because of his race, Matthew Towns, a young African American man, moves to Berlin, Germany, where he meets and falls in love with Princess Kautilya, daughter of the Maharajah of Bwodpur, India. Together, they join an international coalition to fight against white imperialism.
Civil rights activist W. E. B. Du Bois dedicated his life to fighting against racial bigotry. Dark Princess, written in the genre of fantasy romance fiction, offered Du Bois an opportunity to explore his dream of eradicating prejudice and discrimination against African Americans and people of color. The novel is a powerful indictment of white supremacy—and a stirring call for solidarity among people of color. It has been rediscovered by scholars and critics who appreciate its bold vision and historical significance.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications (May 15, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0486852598
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0486852591
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.9 x 0.9 x 7.9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #375,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #479 in Black & African American Historical Fiction (Books)
- #1,030 in Classic American Literature
- #10,160 in Classic Literature & Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.6 43 ratings

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W. E. B. Du Bois

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William Edward Burghardt “W. E. B.” Du Bois was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, and editor. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community.

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Customers praise the book's pacing and story quality. They describe it as an engaging tale of longing and action that breaks through their cynicism. The book is described as a romantic, well-written story with a fascinating blend of social satire and fantasy elements.

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Pacing Story quality

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it extraordinary, mixing social satire with fantasy and describing it as a metaphorical romp by the great DuBois.

"This is a grand metaphorical romp by the great DuBois. A fascinating grand synthesis in the form of a parable. Over the top in a great way." Read more

"Absolutely extraordinary!" Read more

"This is a good story, which combines social satire and faerie. Some passages are too long in the final part. ." Read more

3 customers mention "Story quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They describe it as a fantastic tale of longing and action that gives a moment-pause to their lurking cynicism. The book blends social satire and faerie, creating a grand metaphorical romp that is robustly written.

"This is a grand metaphorical romp by the great DuBois. A fascinating grand synthesis in the form of a parable. Over the top in a great way." Read more

"Reading this was eerily modern. A fantastical tale of longing and action that gives a moment-pause to my lurking cynicisms. Yep, moment has passed...." Read more

"This is a good story, which combines social satire and faerie. Some passages are too long in the final part. ." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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Francis G. Hutchins
Romantic story robustly written by a genius.
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2013
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This is a grand metaphorical romp by the great DuBois. A fascinating grand synthesis in the form of a parable. Over the top in a great way.

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5 people found this helpful

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aleysha
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
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Absolutely extraordinary!

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2 people found this helpful

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Raf
Love the language of DuBois
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024
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Reading this was eerily modern. A fantastical tale of longing and action that gives a moment-pause to my lurking cynicisms. Yep, moment has passed. Still love DuBois. Not so sure about the “Talented Tenth” notion. Enjoy.

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Kaneasha Shackelford
Dubois: Dark Princess
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2012
With the emergence of what has come to be known as modernity, no one writing of Du Bois, especially his earlier writings, can claim his mastery of economic, religious and political disciplines, making him incomparable to any scholar as it relates to understanding black religion and its messianic calling. His approach to Dark Princess is an extreme example: it interweaves social thought, black and Indian political theory, capitalist hybridization, biblical theology, post slavery studies and a pastiche of Eastern religion. Arnold Rampersand provides a similar acknowledgement of the interdisciplinary work of Dark Princess citing it as a "queer combination of outright propaganda and Arabian tale, of social realism, and quaint romance." Published in 1928, Du Bois, in his self proclaimed most favorite literary work, Dark Princess, unfolds the impact of the protracted violence of Euro-American modernity upon Pan Asian and Pan African people.

According to Bill Mullen, throughout his extensive career, W.E.B. Du Bois' stance for Asian nationalism is often overlooked and undervalued, even though it is essential to understanding his philosophy of politics, economy and religion. In 1904, Du Bois advocated Asia's war with Russia and completed a second trip to China in 1959. Mullen states, in his article entitled Afro-Asia Internationalism, Asia was for Du Bois, "a literal and figurative site of his intellectual evolution from "Fabian socialist" to "revolutionary Marxist." Because of his affiliations with Japan, India and China, Pan-Asian affairs merged into his work as a black intellectual and his vision of unification between dark bodies affected by the U.S. "color line" and dark bodies internationally affected by the international "color line. " For Du Bois, Asian and African peoples both were fighting to get out of the international strongholds of European colonialism.

Du Bois use of Kautilya's name has historical and political implications that are severe. In Roger Boesche's article, "Kautilya's Arthasastra on War and Diplomacy in Ancient India," he notes that, Kautilya was the key adviser to the Indian king Chandragupta Maurya (c. 317-293 B.C.E.), which strikingly is one of the names given to Matthew's and Kautilya's son in the conclusion of Dark Princess. Chandragupta was the first king to unite the Indian subcontinent in empire. Around 300 BCE, Kautilya wrote the Arthasastra which was a "science of politics intended to teach a wise king how to govern ." Boesche notes, "Kautilya offers wide-ranging and truly fascinating discussions on war and diplomacy, including his wish to have his king become a world conqueror." Moreover, Kautilya's Artharshatra gives an "analysis of which kingdoms are natural allies and which are inevitable enemies, his willingness to make treaties he knew he would break, his doctrine of silent war or a war of assassination against an unsuspecting king, his approval of secret agents who killed enemy leaders and sowed discord among them."
Throughout Dark Princess, we see Du Bois employ several of these political moves through Princess Kautilya, her entourage and allies, and especially in the character of Perigua. However, interestingly enough there is something that Princess Kautilya, an eastern representative of political and religious ideals, needs in order to fulfill her destiny against European colonialism. For Du Bois, it is imperative that Princess Kautilya understands the black American experience and most importantly the messianic calling of blacks and black Christianity. Du Bois, through Princess Kautilya, an Eastern figure, captures perhaps the inadequacy of her Eastern political power as it relates to overcoming oppression, in comparison to a group of Western dark people, blacks in America, who follow Christ. Again, for Du Bois, Asian and African peoples both were fighting to get out of the international strongholds of European colonialism. And we know Christianity's ties to colonialism, and moreover, the connection between colonialism and racism. Thus, Du Bois' debates are also undergirded and shaped against the religious thought of European Christianity, and its theological error upon Africa, Asia and America. It almost poses the question, what powerful influence, for Du Bois, does black Christianity have on political systems of the world?

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Labrousse
This is a good story, which combines social satire and faerie
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2018
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This is a good story, which combines social satire and faerie. Some passages are too long in the final part. .

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Constant Reader
I love this book but I have to take a point off at for the cover
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
WEB DuBois is rightly remembered as one of the great Black intellectuals and activists from the beginning of the 20th century, and his nonfiction book The Souls of Black Folk is still a powerful and important read. However, he also wrote a few absolute potboilers, presumably to make money, and this is the best of them! This is an adventure romance and it is *so* much fun to read.

Our main character is a Black intellectual who leaves the US to study in Europe, where he meets an African princess. She later comes to the United States where she becomes involved in the struggle for race uplift and class justice. Together they uncover a plan by the Pullman porters – the Klan is having a big meeting in Chicago and have chartered special trains to take them there, and the porters have gotten together and decided to... blow them up. This is a moment when you might stop and think – wait, this was what Black people were reading in 1928? Yes, yes they were. Will they succeed in stopping the plot – and should they? Will our main character succeed in winning the love of the dark princess? Will they live happily ever after? You're unlikely to put this one down.

The writing varies from beautiful to almost laughably campy – DuBois has an incisive eye for human behavior and excels at description, but some of the dialogue is truly clunky. My favorite line: "how came you here, my dark princess, masquerading as a trade unionist?" It's always fun.

If you like these kinds of older novels, where you've got adventures and thrills along with a generous helping of soap opera and romance, you'll probably love this. It offers something really different if you're used to white writers, and if you read books like the wonderful Of One Blood by Pauline Hopkins you'll find this quite similar in its "what other popular element can I just throw in here to keep my readers happy?" approach.

BUT... what the HELL, Dover? The title is actually Dark Princess, why would you choose THIS image? I'm used to covers by people who didn't bother to read the book, but this feels like a cover by someone who didn't bother to read the title. She should be… a dark princess. DuBois was also trying to make a statement about skin politics.

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Big Sistah Patty
Surprised!
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2009
I have never liked anything that Mr. Dubois has written. I have always been annoyed at his pompous, pretentious, and laborious writing style. He always displayed an elitist and disdainful attitude toward the Black masses. So I was very hesitant about reading anything else written by him. However, I have felt compelled to read some of his works to see what all the wahala was about. So I gave Dark Princess a try and if he grab me in the first 20 pages, I would read further.

This is only book he was written that I can say I enjoyed. He stilled exhibited some of his old traits. However, they were minimized and not as annoying.

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Morgan bos
unbound Oxford editions
Reviewed in Canada on March 16, 2024
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The media could not be loaded.

Terrible quality from this Oxford edition. Every second page came unbound and made the book very near impossible to read. I bought this book for one of my classes and it sucked flipping through pages in class while they fell out. Inconvenient, annoying and disappointing.

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Dark Princess: A Romance (Dover Thrift Editions: Black History) Paperback – May 15, 2024

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Are there any collections of stories or poetry in the Dover Thrift Editions?

What formats are the Thrift Editions available in?

American History/History

Black History

Biography and Autobiography

Classic Novels

Crime, Mystery and Thrillers

Gothic and Horror

Literary Collections

Philosophy

Plays

Political Science

Poetry

Psychology

Religion

SciFi and Fantasy

Short Stories

Speeches and Quotations

From the Publisher

Dark Princess presents a captivating love story set against the backdrop of global racial and political struggles, providing profound insights into societal inequalities and the fight for justice.

A monumental work that intertwines the themes of racial and political struggle with a captivating love story that transcends continents.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Product details

Videos

About the author

W. E. B. Du Bois

Customer reviews

Review this product

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Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic story robustly written by a genius.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the language of DuBois

5.0 out of 5 stars Dubois: Dark Princess

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a good story, which combines social satire and faerie

4.0 out of 5 stars I love this book but I have to take a point off at for the cover

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprised!

Top reviews from other countries

1.0 out of 5 stars unbound Oxford editions

Romantic story robustly written by a genius.

Five Stars

Love the language of DuBois

Dubois: Dark Princess

This is a good story, which combines social satire and faerie

I love this book but I have to take a point off at for the cover

Surprised!

unbound Oxford editions