The Richer, the Poorer

(Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Drawing on a career spanning almost 70 years, this selection of fiction and essays provides an overview of the work of one of the enduring figures of the Harlem Renaissance.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

True, West just made waves with her second novel, The Wedding (LJ 12/94)?published 46 years after she debuted with The Living Is Easy?but she is best known for her short stories. This last living member of the Harlem Renaissance here collects all her classic short works and augments them with some autobiographical sketches.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Anchor (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385471467
• ISBN-13: 978-0385471466
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #866,780 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It only looks easy, May 23, 2001

By	Charlotte Vale-Allen (CT USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Would-be writers would do well to read this collection of seemingly simple stories and sketches. It takes great talent and understanding to write such effortless, fluid prose. Once you've read the short stories, the reminiscences are a fascinating reflection of how an author mines her own life experiences to create art. As well, this pioneer of black literature has painted historical mini-portraits of life for so many people -- some of whom were born to slavery and freed within the author's own lifetime. It's too easy to forget that not so very long ago, black people weren't even considered citizens, but merely property. This is a lovely book, a prime example of elegantly simple writing. Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read, July 6, 2000

By	Beryl Kalisa (Atlanta, Ga USA) - See all my reviews

This collection of short stories were interesting to read.Some were intriguing,others were okay, and some were suspenful.I enjoyed her writing about middle and upper middle class African Americans that are often neglected in popular literature. Some pieces were autobiographical but they span from the 1920s -1980s.Provides the reader with an intereting insight to an African AmericanNew Englander's perspectives but ultimately illustates that we are all part of the human community.This is good reading for a rainy day, a snowy day, or any day!

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Modest Effort, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

I have mixed feelings about Ms. West's novels. On the one hand, she writes remarkable well about the human condition and even her shortest stories translate into volumes in the mind. On the other hand Ms. West's constant references to skin color and class are contrived and nauseating. It make on e think that maybe she hated her own warm brown skin. These stories are interesting. Some are underdeveloped mostly because she was so very young when she penned them. It's a worthwhile book but it didn't make me a fan.