First published 1996
Zora Neale Hurston's letters offer an intimate look at the acclaimed novelist behind the legend. From her early days as an aspiring writer to her later struggles, these missives capture Hurston's unwavering determination, her quick wit, and her uncompromising spirit. As she corresponds with luminaries like Langston Hughes and Dorothy West, a portrait emerges of a trailblazer who dared to be unapologetically herself, even in the face of racism and sexism. Hurston's story is one of triumph and heartbreak, a testament to the power of the written word to both reveal and conceal.
Genres: biography, literary-fiction, 20th-century, african-american, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: biographical, epistolary, historical-figure
Setting: United States
Period: 20th century
400 pages · Paperback · Rutgers University Press
Content warnings: racism, sexism