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Quicksand & Passing

By Nella Larsen
Series: Serpent's Tail Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 4,588 ratings, 233 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
Quicksand & Passing by Nella Larsen delves into the complexities of identity and societal perception in the early 20th century. The book explores themes of race, gender, and class through the lives of two mixed-race women who navigate issues of identity and belonging. Their stories reveal the emotional and societal challenges faced in a racially divided 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 interested in rich explorations of racial and gender identity set against the backdrop of the Harlem Renaissance. It delves into the complexities and inner conflicts of individuals navigating societal pressures and personal desires, making it a compelling read for those fascinated by nuanced character studies and historical settings.

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A classic of women's literature in a new, elegant edition.

A classic of women's literature in a new, elegant edition

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 writer of the Harlem Renaissance, Nella Larsen wrote just two novels, published here, and a handful of short stories. Critically acclaimed, both speak powerfully of the contradictions and restrictions experienced by black women at that time.

Quicksand, written in 1928, is an autobiographical novel about Helga Crane, a mixed race woman caught between fulfilling her desires and gaining respectability in her middle-class neighbourhood.

Written a year later, Passing tells the story of two childhood friends, Clare and Irene, both light-skinned enough to pass as white. Reconnecting in adulthood, Clare has chosen to live as a white woman, while Irene embraces black culture and has an important role in her community.

Nella Larsen's novels are moving, characterful, and important books. She pioneered writing about the conflicts of sexuality, race, and the secret suffering of women in the early twentieth century.

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?

Nella Larsen's Quicksand and Passing have received praise for their vivid exploration of the black middle class's interior dramas in Harlem, with The New York Times noting their insightful nature. Alice Walker found them absorbing and fascinating, while Hazel Carby from Yale highlighted Quicksand's challenge to traditional romance narratives. Maya Angelou described discovering Larsen's work as a delightful and guilt-free pleasure, and The Irish Times recognised them as precious and unusual works.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781846687853

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 May 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Serpent's Tail

Edition: Main - Classic edition

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 204g

Pages: 256

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Nella Larsen Series: Serpent's Tail Classics

About the Author

Nella Larsen was born in Chicago in 1893 to a Danish mother and a West Indian father. She began writing during the Harlem Renaissance, a period during which black artists, writers, and musicians were prominent in the New York art scene. The success of Quicksand and Passing made Nella Larsen one of the most f.ted woman writers of her generation. She died in 1964 in obscurity.

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