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Their Eyes Were Watching God

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( 379,721 ratings, 23,562 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
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is a novel that follows the journey of Janie Crawford as she seeks independence and self-discovery in the early 20th-century American South. Through her relationships and personal trials, Janie navigates societal expectations and searches for true love, ultimately finding her voice and identity. The story is a rich exploration of themes like empowerment, race, and gender.
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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 are drawn to powerful narratives of self-discovery and love set in the vibrant backdrop of early 20th-century Southern America. The story's lyrical prose and rich cultural heritage will captivate readers who appreciate strong character development, particularly in a woman seeking her true identity against societal expectations.

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Zora Neale Hurston's masterpiece is perhaps the most widely read and highly regarded novel in the entire canon of African American literature. Published as part of a beautifully designed series to mark the 40th anniversary of the Virago Modern Classics.

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

ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL NOVELS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

'This novel is a packet of surprises as we have no idea what's going to happen next' GUARDIAN

'One of the greatest writers of our time' TONI MORRISON

'Devilishly funny and academically solid: delicious mixture' MAYA ANGELOU

'There is no novel I love more' ZADIE SMITH

She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her . . .

When, at sixteen, Janie is caught kissing shiftless Johnny Taylor, her grandmother swiftly marries her off to an old man with sixty acres. Janie endures two stifling marriages before meeting the man of her dreams - who offers not diamonds, but a packet of flowering seeds.

Books included in the VMC 40th anniversary series include: Frost in May by Antonia White; The Collected Stories of Grace Paley; Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault; The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter; The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann; Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith; The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; Heartburn by Nora Ephron; The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy; Memento Mori by Muriel Spark; A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor; and Faces in the Water by Janet Frame

Series: Virago Modern Classics

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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?

Their Eyes Were Watching God is hailed as one of the greatest American novels, praised for its lyrical prose and emotional depth. Renowned authors like Zadie Smith and Alice Walker express profound admiration, noting its unique impact and impressive narrative. Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou also celebrate Zora Neale Hurston for her exceptional writing and vibrant personality.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349010335

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 May 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Zadie Smith
  • Introduction by Zadie Smith

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 137.0mm

Height: 202.0mm

Weight: 214g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) was a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist. An author of four novels (Jonah's Gourd Vine, 1934; Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937; Moses, Man of the Mountain, 1939; and Seraph on the Suwanee, 1948); two books of folklore (Mules and Men, 1935, and Tell My Horse, 1938); an autobiography (Dust Tracks on a Road, 1942); and over fifty short stories, essays, and plays.

She attended Howard University, Barnard College and Columbia University, and was a graduate of Barnard College in 1927. She also grew up in Alabama.

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