Best Selling Books by Zora Neale Hurston

The acclaimed author of Their Eyes Were Watching God relates her experiences as an African American woman in early-twentieth-century America. In this autobiographical essay, author Zora Neale Hurston recounts episodes from her childhood in different communities in Florida: Eatonville and Jacksonville. She reflects on what those experiences showed her about race, identity, and feeling different. “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” was originally published in 1928 in the magazine The World Tomorrow.

Despite being a married man and pastor of Zion Hope, John Buddy Pearson is a "natchel man" during the week "who loves too many women for his own good."--Back cover.

The most prolific African-American woman author from 1920 to 1950, Hurston was praised for her writing and condemned for her independence, arrogance, and audaciousness. This unique anthology, with 14 superb examples of her fiction, journalism, folklore, and autobiography, rightfully establishes her as the intellectual and spiritual leader of the next generation of black writers. In addition to six essays and short stories, the collection includes excerpts from Dust Tracks on the Road; Mules and Me; Tell My Horse; Jonah''s Gourd Vine; Moses, Man of the Mountain; and Their Eyes Were Watching God. The original commentary by Alice Walker and Mary Helen Washington, two African-American writers in the forefront of the Hurston revival, provide illuminating insights into Hurston-the writer, the person-as well as into American social and cultural history.

Initially published in 1937, this novel about a proud, independent black woman has, since its reissue in trade paper in 1978, been the most widely readand highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature. With this richly illustrated new edition, the novel is finally accorded the treatment it deserves as a classic.

A candid, funny, bold and poignant autobiography from one of literature''s most cherished voices. Dust Tracks on a Road is the enthralling account of Zora Neale Hurston''s rise from an impoverished childhood in the rural South to celebrated artist of the Harlem Renaissance. Penguin Random House Canada is proud to bring you classic works of literature in e-book form, with the highest quality production values. Find more today and rediscover books you never knew you loved.

The foundational, classic anthology that revived interest in the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God—"one of the greatest writers of our time"—and made her work widely available for a new generation of readers (Toni Morrison). During her lifetime, Zora Neale Hurston was praised for her writing but condemned for her independence and audacity. Her work fell into obscurity until the 1970s, when Alice Walker rediscovered Hurston''s unmarked grave and anthologized her writing in this groundbreaking collection for the Feminist Press. I Love Myself When I Am Laughing... And Then Again When I Am Looking Mean and Impressive established Hurston as an intellectual leader for future generations of black writers. A testament to the power and breadth of Hurston''s oeuvre, this edition—newly reissued for the Feminist Press''s fiftieth anniversary—features a new preface by Walker. "Through Hurston, the soul of the black South gained one of its most articulate interpreters." —The New York Times

The author recounts her experiences as an initiate into the voodoo practices of Haiti and Jamaica in the 1930s.

A fictionized biography of Moses as a religious leader and a great voodoo man, told in Negro vernacular.

A collection of short stories, most of which appeared in literary magazines during the author''s lifetime, along with previously unpublished works, spans the career of one of the century''s foremost African American writers.

MAXnotes. . .- offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature- present material in an interesting, lively fashion- are written by literary experts who currently teach the subjects- are designed to stimulate independent thinking by raising various issues and thought-provoking ideas and questions- enhance understanding and enjoyment of the work- cover what one must know about each work- include an overall summary, character lists, explanation and discussion of the plot, the work''s historical context, biography of the author- each chapter is individually summarized and analyzed and includes study questions and answers- feature illustrations conveying the period and mood of the workEach MAXnotes measures 5 1/4" x 8 1/4" (13.3 cm x 21 cm).

Now frequently anthologized, Zora Neale Hurston''s short story "Sweat" was first published in Firell, a legendary literary magazine of the Harlem Renaissance, whose sole issue appeared in November 1926. Among contributions by Gwendolyn Bennett, Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, and Wallace Thurman, "Sweat" stood out both for its artistic accomplishment and its exploration of rural Southern black life. In "Sweat" Hurston claimed the voice that animates her mature fiction, notably the 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God; the themes of marital conflict and the development of spiritual consciousness were introduced as well. "Sweat" exemplifies Hurston''s lifelong concern with women''s relation to language and the literary possibilities of black vernacular. This casebook for the story includes an introduction by the editor, a chronology of the author''s life, the authoritative text of "Sweat," and a second story, "The Gilded Six-Bits." Published in 1932, this second story was written after Hurston had spent years conducting fieldwork in the Southern United States. The volume also includes Hurston''s groundbreaking 1934 essay, "Characteristics of Negro Expression," and excerpts from her autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road. An article by folklorist Roger Abrahams provides additional cultural contexts for the story, as do selected blues and spirituals. Critical commentary comes from Alice Walker, who led the recovery of Hurston''s work in the 1970s, Robert Hemenway, Henry Louis Gates, Gayl Jones, John Lowe, Kathryn Seidel, and Mary Helen Washington.

"When a mule bone becomes a bone of contention between two best friends, guitar player Jim and dancer Dave, their small Southern town becomes embroiled in the conflict. Egged on by flirtatious newcomer Daisy, matters escalate until the harmony of Eatonville is overturned and the longtime pals end up in court. Will justice or friendship prevail in this humorous Harlem Renaissance classic? ""The Mule-Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life in Three Acts"" by Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston is a play written by two prominent African American authors during the 1930s. ""The Mule-Bone"" explores themes of love, rivalry, and community life in a Southern town. It''s known for its rich dialogue and humor, offering a snapshot of African American culture during the early part of the 20th century."

"One of the greatest writers of our time."--Toni Morrison "This well-made collection of her work . . . should give momentum to the rediscovery of Hurston as ''the intellectual and spiritual foremother of a generation of black women writers.''"--The Washington Post Book Review Known for her audacity and inimitable style, Zora Neale Hurston is widely acknowledged as the forerunner for writers such as Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. This anthology draws together superb selections from her essays, short stories, journalism, folklore, and autobiography. Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) was a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist whose fictional and factual accounts of black heritage remain unparalleled. Her many books include Dust Tracks on a Road; Their Eyes Were Watching God; Jonah''s Gourd Vine; Moses, Man of the Mountain; Mules and Men; and Every Tongue Got to Confess. Alice Walker changed the course of the American literary canon when she published her novel The Color Purple in 1982. As an anthologist, she lifted from obscurity the writings of Zora Neale Hurston and introduced Hurston to a new generation of readers in this FP Classic, first published in 1979.