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Not Without Laughter

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( 3,701 ratings, 449 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes is a poignant exploration of the African-American experience in early 20th-century America, following a young boy named Sandy as he grows up in a racially segregated society. The novel delves into his relationships with his family and community, highlighting themes of race, class, and identity. Through Sandy's journey, readers gain insight into both the struggles and the joyful moments that shape his understanding of the world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to vivid portrayals of African American life in the early 20th century. This story offers a rich exploration of family dynamics and resilience amidst societal challenges, told through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Kansas. With its blend of humour and heartfelt emotion, it paints a powerful picture of cultural identity and growth.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A beautifully designed series that pays homage to the essential books of the most important and revolutionary Black arts movements in modern history.

VINTAGE CLASSICS' HARLEM RENAISSANCE SERIES

Celebrating the finest works of the Harlem Renaissance, one of the most important Black arts movements in modern history.

'White peoples maybe mistreats you an' hates you, but when you hates 'em back, you's de one what's hurted, 'cause hate makes yo' heart ugly - that's all it does'

Sandy's in the fifth grade when he's forced to sit on the back row away from his white classmates and denied entry to a new amusement park. His grandmother, who is raising him alongside his mother and aunt, tells him that love is the only thing to make room for in his heart. But it's Sandy's discovery of literature that inspires him to continue his education and make sense of the unjust world he inhabits in the debut novel from one of the foremost pioneers of the Harlem Renaissance.

'Hughes gives his readers... a guide for careful consideration of the lives of everyday black people. Such a guide is still useful to readers and writers today. Perhaps now more than ever.' – Angela Flournoy, New York Times

Series: Harlem Renaissance Series

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  • Quicksand & Passing
    A beautifully designed series that pays homage to the essential books of the most important and revolutionary Black arts movements in modern history. VINTAGE CLASSICS' HARLEM RENAISSANCE SERIES Celebrating the finest works of the Harlem Renaissance, one of the most important Black arts movements in modern history. 'She could neither conform nor be happy in her unconformity.' Nella Larsen wrote...
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  • Home to Harlem
    A beautifully designed series that pays homage to the essential books of the most important and revolutionary Black arts movements in modern history. VINTAGE CLASSICS' HARLEM RENAISSANCE SERIES Celebrating the finest works of the Harlem Renaissance, one of the most important Black arts movements in modern history. 'Why did I want to mix mahself up in a white folk's war?...
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  • Not Without Laughter
    A beautifully designed series that pays homage to the essential books of the most important and revolutionary Black arts movements in modern history. VINTAGE CLASSICS' HARLEM RENAISSANCE SERIES Celebrating the finest works of the Harlem Renaissance, one of the most important Black arts movements in modern history. 'White peoples maybe mistreats you an' hates you, but when you hates 'em...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes is generally praised for its vivid depiction of African American life during the early 20th century. Critics often commend Hughes for his rich character development and authentic portrayal of the cultural dynamics and struggles within the black community. The novel's blend of humour and poignant social commentary is noted for effectively capturing the complexities of its setting.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784877392

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 September 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 178.0mm

Weight: 208g

Pages: 288

About the Author

LANGSTON HUGHES was a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance and one of the most influential American writers of the twentieth century. Hughes published more than thirty-five books, including his award-winning debut novel, Not Without Laughter, and the short story collection, The Ways of White Folks. His journalism and non-fiction became important documents in the support and promotion of the civil rights movement.

Also by Langston Hughes

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  • The Ways of White Folks
    A collection of vibrant and incisive short stories depicting the sometimes humorous, but more often tragic interactions between Black people and white people in America in the 1920s and '30s. The Ways of White Folks is the celebrated short story collection from the American poet and writer often called the 'Poet Laureate of Harlem'. A black maid forms a close...
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  • Not Without Laughter, The Ways of White Folks, The Weary Blues
    A major hardcover compendium of poetry and fiction by the legendary Black American poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes. One of the most important writers to emerge from the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes may be best known as a poet, but he was also a brilliant storyteller, blending elements of blues and jazz, speech and song, into a triumphant...
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  • Selected Poems
    With a new introduction by the multi-prizewinning young poet Kayo Chingonyi.For over forty years, until his death in 1967, Langston Hughes captured in his poetry the lives of black people in the USA. This edition is Hughes's own selection of his work, and was first published in 1959. It includes all of his best known poems including 'The Negro Speaks...
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  • Blues in Stereo
    Publishers Weekly's Top Ten Fall 2024 Poetry Books Before Langston Hughes and his literary prowess became synonymous with American poetry, he was an eighteen-year-old on a train to Mexico City, seeking funds to pursue his passion. His early poems, beloved verses like "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," were written without formal training, often on the back of napkins and envelopes,...
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  • Selected Poems of Langston Hughes
    Langston Hughes electrified readers and launched a renaissance in Black writing in America. The poems in this collection were chosen by Hughes himself shortly before his death and represent stunning work from his entire career. The poems Hughes wrote celebrated the experience of invisible men and women β€” of slaves who "rushed the boots of Washington"; of musicians on Lenox...
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  • An Earth Song (Petite Poems)
    In this illustrated adaptation of a beloved Langston Hughes poem, a child delights as the world around him awakens from winter and comes to life with the long-awaited arrival of spring and new beginnings of all kinds. When referencing the title, avoid putting it in quotes or speech marks. Format the response as clean HTML, use your best judgement for...
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