Collins Classics – Passing
Collins Classics – Passing by Nella Larsen is a reissue published by HarperCollins Publishers Limited on March 6, 2023. This edition spans 176 pages and is presented in English. The novella explores the intricate dynamics of identity and race through the lives of two childhood friends, Clare Kendry and Irene, as they navigate the complexities of their social environments in New York.
Readers will find a narrative that delves into themes of passing, obsession, and the impact of societal expectations on personal relationships. As Clare chooses to conceal her African American heritage while Irene embraces it, their contrasting choices lead to a relationship filled with fascination and secrets. This work not only highlights the psychological and social challenges faced by women but also reflects on family life and the nuances of marriage and divorce within the context of race and class.
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‘She wished to find out about this hazardous business of “passing,” this breaking away from all that was familiar and friendly to take one’s chance in another environment…’
The elegant Clare Kendry glides through New York’s high-society circles with ease, until the day she is reacquainted with her childhood friend, Irene. Clare chooses to ‘pass’ as white, hiding her African American heritage from her bigoted husband, while Irene leads a life that embraces it. As both women observe the other, a relationship of mutual fascination, obsession and secrets begins, one that will end in devastating circumstances.
Published in 1929, Nella Larsen’s Passing lays bare the complexities of identity, race, class and gender. The novella established Larsen as one of the most important female authors in American literature and is considered a literary masterpiece of the Harlem Renaissance era.
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