In Search of Nella Larsen: A Biography of the Color Line

摘要: Born to a Danish seamstress and black West Indian cook in one of the Western Hemisphere's most infamous vice districts, Nella Larsen (1891 - 1964) lived her life shadows America's racial divide. She wrote about that life, was briefly celebrated time, then lost later generations only be rediscovered hailed by many as best novelist generation. In his search for Larsen, 'mystery woman Harlem Renaissance', George Hutchinson exposes truths half-truths surrounding this central figure modern literary studies, well complex reality they mask mirror. His book is cultural biography colour line it person who truly embodied all its ambiguities complexities. Author landmark study Renaissance, Hutchinson, here, produces definitive account long obscured misinterpretations, fabrications omissions. He brings an often tormented modernist, from trauma childhood emergence star Renaissance. Showing links between experiences writings, illuminates singularity achievement shatters previous notions position modernist landscape. Revealing suppressions misunderstandings accompany effort separate white, addresses vast consequences Americans colour-line culture's fundamental rule: race trumps family.