“Two women in 1920s New York discover how fluid and dangerous our perceptions of race can be in this electrifying classic of the Harlem Renaissance.”
“Nella Larsen (1891–1964) was the author of several short stories and two novels, Quicksand and Passing. She received a Guggenheim Fellowship to write a third novel in 1930 but, unable to find a publisher for it, she disappeared from the literary scene and worked as a nurse in New York City.”
The Spoilers welcome in the new year with a rollicking discussion of Nella Larsen’s Harlem Renaissance classic, Passing in this episode — and let me tell you they have some strong feelings about the characters in this book. As she does in the novel, the radiant Clare Kendry garners much of the attention, but we have plenty to say about Irene and her very complicated mind as well. We bravely tackle all things race and of course explore the intricacies of passing as well. Mostly we just do our best to answer Anita’s questions (which are fantastic as usual). We laugh, we cry and no one dies in this entertaining episode — perhaps there’s some misadventure, but only the good kind (disclaimer: no one even comes close to crying).