Mr. Frank, the Underground Mail-Agent
Encyclopedia
Mr. Frank, the Underground Mail-Agent is an 1853
parody novel
written by an unknown author credited as "Vidi".
genre that emerged from the Southern United States
in response to the abolitionist
novel Uncle Tom's Cabin
in 1852, which was criticised in the South for its negative portrayal of plantation life.
However, whereas the majority of such anti-Tom novels were direct attacks on Uncle Tom's Cabin, Mr. Frank instead chooses to parody the events of Stowe's novel rather than serve as an antithesis to her work.
, where he works to help runaway slaves from the South flee to the Northern United States
and then onto Canada
. Originally, Mr. Frank is an abolitionist at heart, but comes to believe that slavery
is a necessary evil
, for while it is wrong, the slaves themselves are better off under their Southern masters than they are in the North.
As time passes, Mr. Frank also learns of the corruption within the Underground Railroad itself, discovering that the abolitionists he works with are nothing more than hopeful slaveowners, convincing slaves from the South to run away from their original masters with promises of freedom, only to be enslaved once more.
that the writing-style of Mr. Frank bears some similarity to the works of the English
satirist Henry Fielding
, famed for his satirical novel Shamela
, released in 1742
as a parody of the 1740
novel Pamela by Samuel Richardson
.
It has been argued that Mr. Frank may be attempting to imitate Shamela by parodying Uncle Tom's Cabin, although this remains open to debate.
for "I saw", as in the famous "Vendi, vidi, vici" speech made by Julius Caesar
). The identity of Vidi remains unknown, although it has been suggested by the sarcastic remarks made in Mr. Frank towards female readers that Vidi may have been male.
The publishers Lippincott, Grambo & Co. had been responsible for the release of the critically successful Aunt Phillis's Cabin
in 1852, and also released Antifanaticism: A Tale of the South
- another anti-Tom novel - in the same year as Mr. Frank.
Mr. Frank now resides in the public domain
, and has been recently reprinted by Kessinger Publishing
.
1853 in literature
The year 1853 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*Charles Dickens writes Bleak House, the first English novel to feature a detective.*William Wells Brown becomes the first African American novelist to be published.-New books:...
parody novel
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
written by an unknown author credited as "Vidi".
Background
Mr. Frank is an example of the pro-slavery plantation literatureAnti-Tom literature
Anti-Tom literature refers to the 19th century pro-slavery novels and other literary works written in response to Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Also called Plantation literature, these writings were generally written by authors from the Southern United States...
genre that emerged from the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
in response to the abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
novel Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
in 1852, which was criticised in the South for its negative portrayal of plantation life.
However, whereas the majority of such anti-Tom novels were direct attacks on Uncle Tom's Cabin, Mr. Frank instead chooses to parody the events of Stowe's novel rather than serve as an antithesis to her work.
Plot introduction
The novel centres on Mr. Frank, a kindhearted but empty-headed worker for the Underground RailroadUnderground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
, where he works to help runaway slaves from the South flee to the Northern United States
Northern United States
Northern United States, also sometimes the North, may refer to:* A particular grouping of states or regions of the United States of America. The United States Census Bureau divides some of the northernmost United States into the Midwest Region and the Northeast Region...
and then onto Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Originally, Mr. Frank is an abolitionist at heart, but comes to believe that slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
is a necessary evil
Necessary Evil
Necessary Evil sometimes referred to as Plane # 91 was the name of a B-29 Superfortress participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945....
, for while it is wrong, the slaves themselves are better off under their Southern masters than they are in the North.
As time passes, Mr. Frank also learns of the corruption within the Underground Railroad itself, discovering that the abolitionists he works with are nothing more than hopeful slaveowners, convincing slaves from the South to run away from their original masters with promises of freedom, only to be enslaved once more.
Influences
It has been noted by researchers from the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
that the writing-style of Mr. Frank bears some similarity to the works of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
satirist Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
, famed for his satirical novel Shamela
An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews
An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews, or Shamela, as it is more commonly known, is a satirical novel written by Henry Fielding and first published in April 1741 under the name of Mr. Conny Keyber. Fielding never owned to writing the work, but it is widely considered to be his...
, released in 1742
1742 in literature
The year 1742 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* December 2 - The Pennsylvania Journal first appears in print in the United States.* The Stockholm Gazette begins publication....
as a parody of the 1740
1740 in literature
The year 1740 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*John Cleland returns to Britain from government service in India.* Accession of Frederick the Great in Prussia.* Beginning of the War of the Austrian Succession....
novel Pamela by Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson
Samuel Richardson was an 18th-century English writer and printer. He is best known for his three epistolary novels: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded , Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady and The History of Sir Charles Grandison...
.
It has been argued that Mr. Frank may be attempting to imitate Shamela by parodying Uncle Tom's Cabin, although this remains open to debate.
Authorship
Almost all editions of Mr. Frank identify the author as simply Vidi (LatinLatin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "I saw", as in the famous "Vendi, vidi, vici" speech made by Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
). The identity of Vidi remains unknown, although it has been suggested by the sarcastic remarks made in Mr. Frank towards female readers that Vidi may have been male.
Publication history
Lippincott, Grambo & Co. originally released the novel under the original title of The Underground Mail-Agent. For unknown reasons, this same edition was released with a second title-page giving the full title of Mr. Frank, the Underground Mail-Agent.The publishers Lippincott, Grambo & Co. had been responsible for the release of the critically successful Aunt Phillis's Cabin
Aunt Phillis's Cabin
Aunt Phillis's Cabin; or, Southern Life As It Is by Mary Henderson Eastman is a plantation fiction novel, and is perhaps the most read anti-Tom novel in American literature. It was published by Lippincott, Grambo & Co of Philadelphia in 1852 as a response to Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, published...
in 1852, and also released Antifanaticism: A Tale of the South
Antifanaticism: A Tale of the South
Antifanaticism: A Tale of the South is an 1853 plantation fiction novel by Martha Haines Butt.- Overview :Antifanaticism is one of several examples of the plantation literature genre that appeared in reaction to the anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, which had been...
- another anti-Tom novel - in the same year as Mr. Frank.
Mr. Frank now resides in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
, and has been recently reprinted by Kessinger Publishing
Kessinger Publishing
Kessinger Publishing is a publisher that offers for reprint rare, out of print and out of copyright books originally issued by other publishers. They are located in Whitefish, Montana.The original dates of publication of the titles are usually prior to ca...
.
See also
- ShamelaAn Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela AndrewsAn Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews, or Shamela, as it is more commonly known, is a satirical novel written by Henry Fielding and first published in April 1741 under the name of Mr. Conny Keyber. Fielding never owned to writing the work, but it is widely considered to be his...
- A 1742 parody novel by Henry Fielding
- White Acre vs. Black AcreWhite Acre vs. Black AcreWhite Acre vs. Black Acre is an 1856 plantation fiction novel written by William M. Burwell.- Overview :White Acre vs. Black Acre is one of several pro-slavery novels published in the Southern United States in response to Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, published in 1852.Burwell's...
- Another satirical anti-Tom novel, released in 18561856 in literatureThe year 1856 in literature involved some significant new books.-Events:*Arthur Schopenhauer adds a chapter on "The Metaphysics of Sexual Love" to the third edition of his The World as Will and Representation....