About the book
An insightful, witty novel set in early twentieth-century black Boston by the Harlem Renaissance's youngest member.
\"A powerful work.\" --Essence
The first novel by Dorothy West--author of The Wedding--was one of only a handful to be published by black women during the 1940s. The Living Is Easy tells the story of Cleo Judson, daughter of Southern sharecroppers, determined to integrate into Boston's black elite. Married to the \"Black Banana King\" Bart Judson, Cleo maneuvers her three sisters and their children--but not their husbands--into living with her, attempting to recreate her original family in a Bostonian mansion.
Written in elegant and piercing prose, The Living Is Easy is a classic of American literature by a groundbreaking African American woman writer whose work deserves widespread and enduring recognition.
Dorothy West (1907-1998) shared the coveted Opportunity short-story prize with Zora Neale Hurston in 1927 and later moved to New York, where she became the youngest of the writers associated with the Harlem Renaissance. West founded and edited the influential African American literary magazine the Challenge and New Challenge. Also the author of The Wedding and The Richer, The Poorer, she lived on Martha's Vineyard until her death.
Editions of The Living Is Easy
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9781936932979
- EBook
- ISBN 9781936932986
Read an Excerpt
An insightful, witty novel set in early twentieth-century black Boston by the Harlem Renaissance's youngest member.
\"A powerful work.\" --Essence
The first novel by Dorothy West--author of The Wedding--was one of only a handful to be published by black women during the 1940s. The Living Is Easy tells the story of Cleo Judson, daughter of Southern sharecroppers, determined to integrate into Boston's black elite. Married to the \"Black Banana King\" Bart Judson, Cleo maneuvers her three sisters and their children--but not their husbands--into living with her, attempting to recreate her original family in a Bostonian mansion.
Written in elegant and piercing prose, The Living Is Easy is a classic of American literature by a groundbreaking African American woman writer whose work deserves widespread and enduring recognition.
Dorothy West (1907-1998) shared the coveted Opportunity short-story prize with Zora Neale Hurston in 1927 and later moved to New York, where she became the youngest of the writers associated with the Harlem Renaissance. West founded and edited the influential African American literary magazine the Challenge and New Challenge. Also the author of The Wedding and The Richer, The Poorer, she lived on Martha's Vineyard until her death.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Living Is Easy about?
An insightful, witty novel set in early twentieth-century black Boston by the Harlem Renaissance's youngest member.
\"A powerful work.\" --Essence
The first novel by Dorothy West--author of The Wedding--was one of only a handful to be published by black women during the 1940s. The Living Is Easy tells the story of Cleo Judson, daughter of Southern sharecroppers, determined to integrate into Boston's black elite. Married to the \"Black Banana King\" Bart Judson, Cleo maneuvers her three sisters and their children--but not their husbands--into living with her, attempting to recreate her original family in a Bostonian mansion.
Written in elegant and piercing prose, The Living Is Easy is a classic of American literature by a groundbreaking African American woman writer whose work deserves widespread and enduring recognition.
Dorothy West (1907-1998) shared the coveted Opportunity short-story prize with Zora Neale Hurston in 1927 and later moved to New York, where she became the youngest of the writers associated with the Harlem Renaissance. West founded and edited the influential African American literary magazine the Challenge and New Challenge. Also the author of The Wedding and The Richer, The Poorer, she lived on Martha's Vineyard until her death.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Living Is Easy?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of The Living Is Easy?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781936932979
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Living Is Easy?
Dorothy West; Morgan Jerkins (Foreword by); Adelaide M. Cromwell (Afterword by)
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Living Is Easy is available as altformat(ISBN 9781936932979) and ebook(ISBN 9781936932986)
Where can I buy The Living Is Easy online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Living Is Easy from below
Where can I buy The Living Is Easy?