The Conjure Man Dies is a novel written in 1932 by African American author Rudolph Fisher. It tells the curious story of a mystic who is murdered, only to apparently come back to life. 'N. Frimbo is discovered dead at his conjure table and his murder investigated by Detective Perry Dart of the Harlem Police, and his friend Dr John Archer. It was considered a groundbreaking novel because it was the first to feature an entirely black cast of characters, as well as a black detective. When it was published, Fisher was the second black author of detective fiction to have a novel published.
It is no coincidence that one of the story's protagonists is a doctor; Fisher was a medic and in the 1920s was considered an authority on the effects of ultraviolet rays on viruses. He also found that his knowledge of human anatomy was extremely useful when Fisher was writing about the human body, and it definitely made it easier for him to explain to his readers how the murder victims in each novel or short story were killed.
Fisher's writing career began as a contributor to medical journals, and his first novel, entitled Walls of Jericho, was published in 1928.
Fisher was interested in promoting Pan Africanism, a movement that strengthens the bonds of solidarity between all indigenous people of African descent. He worked hard to promote Pan-African candidates running for congress and also believed in empowering women; the female characters in his stories and novels are always examples of strength.
In 1934, Fisher died and the very young age of thirty-seven. it is suspected that the abdominal cancer that killed him was caused by his early experiments with x-rays and radiation.
