Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica

Tell My Horse offers a rare, firsthand exploration of the spiritual traditions, rituals, and cultural practices surrounding voodoo in Haiti and Jamaica. Unlike typical travelogues of the era, Zora Neale Hurston approached her work not as a distant observer but as an initiate, participating directly in ceremonies and gaining access to communities and knowledge seldom shared with outsiders.

Drawing from her experiences in the 1930s, Hurston delivers a vivid and unflinching account of beliefs, customs, and stories that shape the spiritual life of the Caribbean. The result is a compelling blend of anthropology, memoir, and cultural reportage—one that illuminates a world often misunderstood or sensationalized.

Rich in detail and grounded in authenticity, Tell My Horse remains an essential resource for understanding the complexity, beauty, and historical significance of voodoo traditions.

Praise for Tell My Horse

“Strikingly dramatic, yet simple and unrestrained… an unusual and intensely interesting book richly packed with strange information.” — New York Times Book Review