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Passing
Series: Macmillan Collector's Library
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Check link for latest rating. ( 85,873 ratings, 9,532 reviews)
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Passing
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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?
Ideal for readers interested in historical and literary fiction, particularly those drawn to nuanced examinations of race, identity, and social complexity in early 20th-century America. Also suited to fans of well-crafted, character-driven narratives and culturally significant classics.
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See moreA gorgeous edition of Nella Larsen's powerful classic novel on female racial identity with an introduction by Christa Holm Vogelius.
A gorgeous edition of Nella Larsen's powerful classic novel on female racial identity with an introduction by Christa Holm Vogelius.
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
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Description
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 introduction by writer and academic, Christa Holm Vogelius.
Irene Redfield, married to a successful physician, enjoys a comfortable life in 1920s Harlem, New York. Reluctantly, she renews her friendship with old school friend, Clare Kendry. Clare, who like Irene is light-skinned, 'passes' as white and is married to a racist white man who has no idea about Clare's racial heritage. Clare is very persuasive and Irene, despite misgivings, can't resist letting her back into her world. As tensions mount between friends and between couples, this taut and mesmerising narrative spins towards an unexpected end.
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?
A compelling exploration of race during the Harlem Renaissance, praised as both a page-turning classic and a revealing cultural study. Jennifer Egan calls it "a fascinating inquiry into the nature of race." Critics highlight its modern relevance and emotional depth, with The New Yorker noting Larsen's skillful storytelling and The Guardian remarking on the complex dynamics of friendship and survival.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781529040289
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 25 June 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Macmillan Collector's Library
Contributors:
- Introduction by Christa Holm Vogelius
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 17.0mm
Width: 100.0mm
Height: 157.0mm
Weight: 142g
Pages: 160
About the Author
Nella Larsen was born in Chicago in 1891 to a white Danish mother and a black West Indian father. She studied in America and Denmark and throughout her writing career she worked as a children's librarian and primarily as a nurse. In 1928 her first novel Quicksand was published to great critical acclaim. Passing was published a year later. Her marriage to Dr Elmer Imes brought her into contact with the upper echelons of New York's black society and she became an important female voice of the Harlem Renaissance. She was the first black woman to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship for creative writing. Divorced in 1933, she spent the rest of her life working as nurse. Nella Larsen died in 1964.
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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...Paperback$2400Unit price /UnavailableOut 20 Oct 2026Pre-order -
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