An Intimation of Things Distant: The Collected Fiction of Nella Larsen [Paperback]

Nella Larsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 7, 1992

Here, for the first time in one volume, are the novels Quicksand and Passing with corrected endings, and three short stories, all by Nella Larsen, "mystery woman" of the Harlem Renaissance, and the first black woman to be awarded a Guggenheim fellowship. Foreword by Marita Golden.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Larsen is an oft-overlooked black writer from the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. These two short novels and three short stories reveal a voice from the past that addresses contemporary, timeless issues--from the politics of hair-straightening to the double handicap of being black and female in America. In the pointed "Sanctuary," a woman's loyalty to her race proves stronger than anger and grief. Quicksand portrays a complex heroine, Helga Crane, who will not settle for a compromised way of life that many black women of the day would have embraced. She quits her rigid teaching job and eventually moves to Copenhagen; she refuses a marriage proposal from a famous, somewhat arrogant white artist. The end of the novel finds Helga trapped in domestic hell in the American South--the price for holding out for a more fulfilling existence. In Passing, Clare Kendry "passes" for white, fooling even her own racist husband. The story is seen through the eyes of Irene Redfield, an old friend of Clare's who does not approve of her friend's crossing over. Ultimately, and surprisingly, this becomes a powerful story about Irene's marriage. Here is Larsen's genius: her insightful, damning social commentary never overshadows her art. Larson wrote The Emergence of African Fiction.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Larsen, a writer during the Harlem Renaissance, has deservedly gained wide praise for her portrayal of black middle-class life in Quicksand (1928) and Passing (1929). Editor Larson has gathered together these two novels and Larsen's three published short stories. He provides "corrected" endings for the novels (which seem very slightly changed from previous editions). What is most significant is the hard-to-obtain short stories. The best of these, "Sanctuary," is interesting not only for its literary merits but also because Larsen was accused of plagiarizing the work from Sheila Kaye-Smith. The editor writes a good introduction about Larsen, an author for whom many questions are still unanswered, including her place of birth and her parentage. Some libraries already owning Deborah McDowell's fine edition of Larsen's novels (Rutgers Univ. Pr., 1986) may wish to skip this volume, but the inclusion of the stories makes it essential for those with extensive holdings in African American and/or women's literature.
- Louis J. Parascandola, Long Island Univ., Brooklyn Campus
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 279 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; First Anchor Edition edition (January 7, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385421494
• ISBN-13: 978-0385421492
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #885,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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