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The Writers' Room: Jesmyn Ward and 'Mother Swamp'

Photograph © Beowulf Sheehan
Photograph © Beowulf Sheehan

Jesmyn Ward is the acclaimed author of “Salvage the Bones” and “Sing, Unburied, Sing.” She’s also a twice-over recipient of the National Book Award. 

Her latest project is a short story called “Mother Swamp,” which takes us back to the South, this time to Louisiana. It follows a 17-year-old girl and the nine generations of women before her who survived illness, hunger, and enslavement.

It’s inspired by the real-world hidden communities of descendants of escaped slaves throughout the southern United States. 

“Mother Swamp” is part of a new Amazon Original Stories collection titled “A Point in Time.” Jesmyn Ward joins us to talk about her life and career. 

Copyright 2022 WAMU 88.5

Arfie Ghedi