The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer (1913)

The Conquest, published in 1913, is the first of seven novels written by Oscar Micheaux, better known as a prolific pioneer African-American filmmaker. This novel, along with two that followed, The Forged Note in 1915 and The Homesteader in 1917, mirrors Micheaux’s experience as a black pioneer of the American West. The son of former slaves, his family had settled in Kansas as a part of the Exoduster movement in the post-Reconstruction era.

Micheaux tells the story of a brave homesteader, Oscar Devereaux, whose dream is to tame 1,000 acres of land and establish himself as an example of success for his people; hence, The Conquest. He secures the land but is overwhelmed by his struggles with drought, loneliness, and a troubled marriage.

Recently rediscovered as an important figure in the history of Hollywood filmmaking, Micheaux is being newly appreciated as well for his skills as a novelist. The reissue of The Conquest, including an introduction by Professor Jayna J. Brown, reacquaints us with his work and puts his groundbreaking career in context for a new generation of readers.