In 'Passing' by Nella Larsen, two light-skinned Black women, Irene and Clare, navigate complex identities in 1920s America. Irene cherishes her Black heritage while Clare chooses to 'pass' for white, leading to a dangerous entanglement. Their relationship unravels as themes of race, class, and desire intertwine, revealing the fragility of identity. As tensions rise, Irene is faced with a harrowing choice that could alter both their lives forever. This poignant exploration of societal boundaries will leave readers questioning: how far would you go to escape your identity?
By Nella Larsen
Published: 2003
""I can’t help feeling that one way or another I’m being deceived; if it isn’t by others, then it’s by myself.""
A NETFLIX BOOK CLUB PICK Nella Larsen's powerful, thrilling, and tragic tale about the fluidity of racial identity that continues to resonate today. A New York Times Editors’ Choice. Now a major motion picture starring Tessa Thompson and Alexander Skarsgård Clare Kendry is living on the edge. Light-skinned, elegant, and ambitious, she is married to a racist white man unaware of her African American heritage, and has severed all ties to her past after deciding to “pass” as a white woman. Clare’s childhood friend, Irene Redfield, just as light-skinned, has chosen to remain within the African American community, and is simultaneously allured and repelled by Clare’s risky decision to engage in racial masquerade for personal and societal gain. After frequenting African American-centric gatherings together in Harlem, Clare’s interest in Irene turns into a homoerotic longing for Irene’s black identity that she abandoned and can never embrace again, and she is forced to grapple with her decision to pass for white in a way that is both tragic and telling. This edition features a new introduction by Emily Bernard and notes by Thadious M. Davis. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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“"I can’t help feeling that one way or another I’m being deceived; if it isn’t by others, then it’s by myself."”
Passing
By Nella Larsen
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Nella Larsen (1891-1964) was an influential American novelist and a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Born to a Danish mother and a West Indian father, Larsen's works explored complex themes of race, identity, and gender. Her notable works include "Quicksand" (1928) and "Passing" (1929), both of which delve into the intricacies of racial and social constructs in early 20th-century America. Larsen's writing style is characterized by its psychological depth, rich character development, and a modernist approach that captures the nuances of her characters' inner lives and societal pressures. Her contributions to literature have gained renewed attention, solidifying her place as an essential voice in American literature.
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