Garies and their Friends is a beautifully written novel by Frank Webb that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the complexities of life in the antebellum South. The story follows a group of slaves on a plantation in Virginia as they navigate the challenges and injustices of their everyday lives.

Webb's writing is both poignant and powerful, drawing readers in with vivid descriptions and compelling characters. The relationships between the slaves, particularly the bond between Garies and his friends, are portrayed with authenticity and depth. The author does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of camaraderie and resilience that sustains these individuals in the face of adversity.

Throughout the book, Webb skillfully weaves in historical detail, providing a rich context for the characters' experiences and shedding light on the social and political dynamics of the time. The novel is both thought-provoking and moving, prompting readers to reflect on issues of race, power, and identity.

Overall, Garies and their Friends is a captivating and important work that offers a unique perspective on a dark chapter in American history. Webb's storytelling is compelling and engaging, making this novel a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of the human experience.

Book Description:
The book which now appears before the public may be of interest in relation to a question which the late agitation of the subject of slavery has raised in many thoughtful minds, viz. — Are the race at present held as slaves capable of freedom, self-government, and progress. The author is a coloured young man, born and reared in the city of Philadelphia. This city, standing as it does on the frontier between free and slave territory, has accumulated naturally a large population of the mixed and African race. Being one of the nearest free cities of any considerable size to the slave territory, it has naturally been a resort of escaping fugitives, or of emancipated slaves. In this city they form a large class — have increased in numbers, wealth, and standing — they constitute a peculiar society of their own, presenting many social peculiarities worthy of interest and attention. The representations of their positions as to wealth and education are reliable, the incidents related are mostly true ones, woven together by a slight web of fiction. From the Preface by Harriet Beecher Stowe