First published 1985
In the vibrant world of 1930s Eatonville, Florida, Spunk Burns, a rugged laborer, falls for Lena, a spirited local beauty. But their passionate romance is complicated by the jealousy of Lena's former lover, the violent and domineering Joe Kanty. As tensions rise, Spunk finds solace in the pulsing rhythms of the juke joint, where he pours his heart into the blues. In this vivid portrait of a small Black community, Hurston weaves a captivating story of desire, betrayal, and the power of the human spirit to transcend even the most daunting obstacles.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, african-american, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, lyrical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, power-dynamics
120 pages · Paperback · Theatre Communications Group
Content warnings: violence