The Street
The Street by Ann Petry is a significant work of fiction published by Mariner Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2020. This edition spans 400 pages and presents the poignant story of Lutie Johnson, a young black woman navigating the challenges of raising her son in Harlem during the late 1940s. The narrative explores themes of violence, poverty, and racial dissonance, as Lutie confronts daily struggles with racism, sexism, and classism in her pursuit of the American dream.
Readers will find a compelling portrayal of Lutie’s determination to achieve financial independence through hard work and wise saving, reflecting the adages of Benjamin Franklin. The book delves into family life and the complexities of identity within the historical context of the time. As the first novel by an African-American woman to sell over a million copies, The Street continues to resonate with contemporary audiences, offering insights into the enduring challenges faced by individuals striving for a better life.
Official synopsis Publisher
With a new introduction from New York Times best-selling author Tayari Jones, The Street was Ann Petry’s first novel, originally published in 1946 and hailed by critics as a masterwork.
The Street tells the poignant, often heartbreaking story of Lutie Johnson, a young black woman, and her spirited struggle to raise her son amid the violence, poverty, and racial dissonance of Harlem in the late 1940s.
Lutie is confronted by racism, sexism, and classism on a daily basis in her pursuit of the American dream for herself and her son, Bub. Lutie fully subscribes to the belief that if she follows the adages of Benjamin Franklin by working hard and saving wisely, she will be able to achieve the dream of being financially independent.
The first novel by an African-American woman to sell more than a million copies, its haunting tale still resonates today.
“Petry is the writer we have been waiting for; hers are the stories we need to fully illuminate the questions of our moment, while also offering a page-turning good time. Ann Petry, the woman, had it all, and so does her insightful, prescient and unputdownable prose.”–Tayari Jones, New York Times Book Review
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