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Passing

By Nella Larsen
Penguin Classics
Series: Little Clothbound Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
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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
Passing by Nella Larsen is a compelling exploration of racial and social identity in 1920s Harlem. The story revolves around two childhood friends, Irene and Clare, who reunite after years apart. Both women navigate the complexities of race, privilege, and societal expectations, as Clare chooses to "pass" as white, leading to tension and introspection in their lives.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you are intrigued by themes of racial identity and social dynamics in 1920s Harlem. It offers a compelling exploration of friendship, jealousy, and the complexities of "passing" as a different race, capturing the nuanced challenges faced by African American women during the Harlem Renaissance.

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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

Introducing Little Clothbound Classics - irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.

Clare Kendry, elegant, fair-skinned and ambitious, is married to a white man who is unaware of her African-American heritage. When she reunites with childhood friend Irene, who has not hidden her origins, both women are forced to confront the secret fears they have buried within themselves. A taut exploration of race and gender, Passing is one of the Harlem Renaissance's greatest works.

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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?

Passing by Nella Larsen is generally praised for its exploration of race and identity during the Harlem Renaissance. Critics often highlight the novel's complex characters and the elegantly crafted narrative that delves into themes of racial passing and societal norms. Many reviews commend Larsen's insightful commentary on the struggles with personal and racial identity, while some also point out the book's enduring relevance to contemporary issues of race and identity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241573747

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 25 August 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 117.0mm

Height: 168.0mm

Weight: 196g

Pages: 176

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction Nella Larsen New Release Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction Series: Little Clothbound Classics

About the Author

Nella Larsen (1891-1964) was an American novelist and major figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Chicago, she attended university in Nashville and subsequently lived in Denmark and New York, where she worked as a nurse and librarian. Her two novels, Quicksand (1928) and Passing (1929), established her as one of the most important black female novelists in American history.

Also by Nella Larsen

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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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  • Quicksand
    Quicksand by Nella Larsen is a powerful first novel that evocatively portrays the racial and gender restrictions that can mark a life. Born to a white mother and an absent black father, and despised for her dark skin, Helga Crane has long had to fend for herself. As a young woman, Helga teaches at an all-black school in the South,...
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  • Passing
    Pre-order
    Passing
    Experience a BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Nella Larsen and her devastating masterpiece of two women navigating a friendship in a racially divided world. The classic 1920s story of a friendship torn apart, Passing is Nella Larsen's devastating masterpiece. Irene Redfield is living a life of careful balance in Harlem when a chance encounter draws her back into the orbit of Clare...
    By Nella Larsen
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    Out 20 Oct 2026
  • Passing
    Passing
    As heard on Radio 4 and seen on Netflix, Nella Larsen's Passing is a distinctive and revealing novel about racial identity. Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition of Passing features an...
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  • Quicksand & Passing
    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...
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