African-American literature
Biography
Zora Neale Hurston was an American novelist, anthropologist, and folklorist whose work centered Black life in the rural South and was central to the Harlem Renaissance.
Primary Genres
- —Novel
- —Short Story
- —Folklore
Major Works
Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), 'Sweat' (1926), Mules and Men (1935)
Writing Style & Major Themes
Writing style: vernacular-rich prose grounded in African-American speech and oral tradition. Major themes: Black womanhood, folklore, community, and self-determination.
Literary Impact
Her novels, revived in the 1970s by Alice Walker, reshaped the canon of American literature.
Suggested Starting Work
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Public-Domain Status
Hurston's works remain under copyright; check by work.
Sources and further reading