Zora neale hurstons most popular book is their eyes were watching god. Although at the time of her death in 1960, hurston had published more books than any other black. Zora neale hurston was an american folklorist and author. Nov, 2009 on january 7, 1891, zora neale hurston, novelist and folklorist, is born in notasulga, alabama. Jan 31, 2018 zora neale hurston was born in notasulga, alabama, probably in 1891. Zora neale hurston biography life, family, childhood, story.
After her relationship with her stepmother rapidly declined, her father sent her to school in jacksonville, florida. Zora neale hurston books list of books by author zora neale. Zora neale hurston was known for her ability to tell a story. Stephanie li in this biography, chronological chapters follow zora neale hurston s family, upbringing, education, influences, and of course, her major works, and place these experiences within the context of. Zoras mother died when she was nine years old, and her father soon remarried.
Her writing was influenced by the small town of eatonville. Timeline of zora neale hurston fort pierce, fl official. Timeline of zora neale hurston fort pierce, fl official website. African american author and harlem renaissance figure zora neale hurston studied anthropology and incorporated folklore and themes of racial heritage into her work. Zora neale hurstons spunk is published in the new negro an anthology of african american poetry, fiction, and essays edited by alaine locke.
Although at the time of her death in 1960, hurston had. Zora neale hurston was born on january 7, 1891 in notasulga, alabama to john hurston and lucy ann potts, who were both slaves. Writer and anthropologist zora neale hurston was a fixture of the harlem. Jan 07, 2014 when zora neale hurston came into prominance in the 30s and 40s, african american literature was dominated by richard wright, and to a lesser extent ralph ellison, both of whom wrote very political, very aggresive, very malecentric books. The book opens with a literal thunderclap as lightning strikes the new york botanical gardens, shattering the buildings glass dome. Zora neale hurston author of their eyes were watching god. Africanamerican storytelling is a strong family tradition that dates.
In 1939, hurston began recording africanamerican experiences in florida as. Later in the year she accepts a position as a drama instructor at north carolina college for negroes. Zora neale hurston was a celebrated folklorist and anthropologist whose writings have experienced a resurgence since her death. Her notable novels included mules and men, their eyes were watching god, and moses, man of the mountain. Zora neale hurston biography childhood, life achievements. Zora neale hurston biography list of works, study guides. Zora neale hurston wrote about africanamerican life in the south. A life in letters, edited by karla kaplan captivates an anthology revealing contradictions and conjectures of a woman who was the most brazenly impious of the harlem literary avantgarde, and who never fit happily within any political group. Zora neale hurston jump at the sun american masters pbs. The harlem renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s that led to the evolution of african american culture, expression through art, music, and literary works, and the establishment of african roots in america. Zora s mother died when she was nine years old, and her father soon remarried. Hurston was closely associated with the harlem renaissance and has influenced such writers as ralph ellison, toni morrison, gayle jones, alice walker, and toni cade bambara.
Youve heard her name before, of course it gets mentioned during interviews on npr with authors who gush about how hurstons work as a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist inspired them. Key events and dates in a zora neale hurston timeline, compiled by phds and masters. She was also an outstanding folklorist and anthropologist who recorded cultural history, as illustrated by her mules and men. Zora neale hurston, known as one of the most symbolic african american women during the harlem renaissance in the 1930s. African american storytelling is a strong family tradition that dates. Zora neale hurston born january 7, 1891 was one of the. The date is may 1, 1925, and later that evening, hurston and. Census records suggest 1891 is the more accurate date.
Zora neale hurston timeline of important dates shmoop. Zora neale hurston is a writer you probably know a little about. Zora neale hurston biography zora neale hurston was an american writer in the first half of the 20th century whose works touched on the africanamerican. Zora neale hurston wrote the following letter to countee cullen, her friend and fellow writer, in 1943. A preeminent writer of the twentieth century african american literature, zora neale hurston was born on january 7, 1891 in notasulga, alabama. Africanamerican author and harlem renaissance figure zora neale hurston studied anthropology and incorporated folklore and themes of racial heritage into her work. Zora neale hurston was a wellknown american folklorist, anthropologist and author. Penniless and alone at the time of her death, her neighbors take up a collection to pay for her funeral. A protofeminist postcard from haiti zora neale hurston. It was unmarked but it was found and marked in 1973. In 1925, shortly before entering barnard college, hurston became one of the leaders of the literary renaissance happening in harlem, producing the shortlived literary magazine fire along with langston hughes and wallace thurman. Zora neale hurston became a fixture of new york citys harlem renaissance, due to her novels like their eyes were. The harlem renaissance was a cultural movement in the 1920s that led to the evolution of africanamerican culture, expression through art, music, and literary works, and the establishment of african roots in america.
She was deemed one of the greatest writers of our time by the novelist toni morrison. Stephanie li in this biography, chronological chapters follow zora neale hurstons family, upbringing, education, influences, and of course, her major works, and place these experiences within the context of. Zora neale hurston born january 7, 1891 was one of the preeminent african american writers of the 20th century. This biography gives the details of this personalitys profile, childhood, life and timeline. An american folklorist, as well as being a highly regarded author, the writer zora neale hurston was well known for being a well established voice during her time. Hurston is buried in a grave in fort pierce florida. It features a variety of stories that hurston herself collected by making trips to florida and new orleans places notable.
Zora neale hurston wrote their eyes were watching god under emotional duress. Mules and men is a collection of african american folklore by african american author zora neale hurston published in 1935. Hurston was known as a non fiction writer, anthropologist and folklorist. Her mother died later in 1904, and may be the reason she wrote about from 19191920, she attended howard university and ended up graduating with an associate degree. Zora neale hurston was an african american author famous during the new negro movement harlem renaissance, which was in the 1920s and 1930s. Zora neale hurstons bestknown book, their eyes were watching god, was criticized by some african american authors and leaders because it did not emphasize and critique racial oppression. Her documentation of the black experience in the early twentieth century was a significant contribution to american history and folklore. Celebrated primarily for her creative literary endeavors and vibrant personality as one of the central figures of the harlem renaissance, zora neale hurstons work as an anthropologist tends to be overshadowed by her work as a novelist, journalist and playwright. Hurstons literature has served as a big eye opener during the harlem renaissance, celebrating black. Hurston, the prolific african american author best known. Zora neale hurston has 106 books on goodreads with 648091 ratings.
From the 1930s through the 1960s, zora neale hurston was the most prolific and accomplished black woman writer in america. Zora neale hurston was an american writer in the first half of the 20th century whose works touched on the african american experience and her struggles as an african american woman. Harlem renaissance in zora neale hurstons novel, their. Other classics include the acclaimed short story sweat.
Zora neale hurston books biography and list of works author of. The hurston family moves to eatonville, an incorporated, selfgoverned, allafrican american town north of orlando. Zora neale hurston was born january 7th, 1891 in notasulga alabama, a tiny town on the eastern side of alabama. She wrote four novels and published more than fifty short stories and plays. Zora neale hurston books biography and list of works. Zora neale hurston was born on january 7, 1903, in eatonville, florida, to reverend john and lucy hurston.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading zora neale hurston. It is today the oldest incorporated africanamerican town in the u. She usually gave 1901 as her birth year, but also gave 1898 and 1903. Sweat is a short story published in 1926 that focuses on the lives of a poor black couple in the 1920s. Jan 7, 1891 zora neale hurston born zora neale hurston is born in notasulga, alabama. Her novel their eyes were watching god is widely considered to be a classic, as it recounts the spiritual journey of a black southern woman in inventive and beautiful detail. She was the fifth of eight children of john hurston, a carpenter and lucy hurston, a school teacher. Africanamerican folklore was zora neale hurston s first love. Books by zora neale hurston author of their eyes were. Zora neale hurston was born in notasulga, alabama, probably in 1891. It receives the anisfieldwolf book award for its take on race relations.
When zora neale hurston came into prominance in the 30s and 40s, africanamerican literature was dominated by richard wright, and to a lesser extent ralph ellison, both of whom wrote very political, very aggresive, very malecentric books. Zora neale hurston was an american writer in the first half of the 20th century whose works touched on the africanamerican experience and her struggles as an africanamerican woman. In may 1934, hurston published her first fulllength novel, jonahs gourd vine. Zora neale hurston, american folklorist and writer associated with the harlem renaissance who celebrated the african american culture of the rural south.
Hurston is hired by the federal writers project to record africanamerican culture in florida. Zora neale hurston became a fixture of new york citys harlem renaissance, due to her novels like their eyes were watching god and shorter works like sweat. The most popular of her four novels is their eyes were watching god, published in 1937. Zora neale hurston won the secondplace fiction prize for her short story spunk in the may 1 issue of opportunity magazine. Zora neale hurston will forever be remembered as one of the greatest writers of the harlem renaissance. Shed kept the novel dammed up inside for months, she would recall, and she wrote it under internal pressure. The harlem renaissance by zora neale hurston 925 words 4 pages. The family moved to eatonville, florida before zora turned one. During that thirtyyear period she published seven books, many short stories, magazine articles, and plays, and she gained a reputation as an outstanding folklorist and novelist gale learning. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. She is the fifth of eight children born to john and lucy potts hurston. During that thirtyyear period she published seven books, many short stories, magazine articles, and plays, and she gained a reputation as. Aug 26, 2008 zora neale hurston wrote the following letter to countee cullen, her friend and fellow writer, in 1943.
Zora neale hurston was an american author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. In it, she discusses lynching, segregation, and her feelings about white liberals. May 11, 2019 the book opens with a literal thunderclap as lightning strikes the new york botanical gardens, shattering the buildings glass dome. Zora neale hurston january 7, 1891 january 28, 1960 was an american author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. Zora neale hurston 18911960, an american novelist, short story writer, poet, and folklorist, is best known for her book their eyes were watching god. Hurstons novels, short stories, and plays often depicted african american life in the south. Creating a rich and varied backlog of work, she would come to create a number of books that were extremely well received through her career. Zora neale hurston, american contrarian the new yorker. Collected in the late 1920s, every tongue got to confess is the third volume of folktales from the celebrated author of their eyes were watching god.
Zora neale hurston books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography. In addition, hurston was a noted folklorist and researcher, studying obeah in. Hurstons first novel, jonahs gourd vine, is published. Born in alabama in 1891, zora neale hurston became a fixture of new york citys harlem renaissance, thanks to novels like their eyes were watching god and shorter works like sweat.
Zora neale hurston is considered one of the titans of twentiethcentury african american literature. You might call zora neale hurston a novelist, an essayist, an anthropologist, a playwright, an icon of the harlem renaissancebut none of these labels fully capture the varied career of this africanamerican trailblazer. Zora neale hurston chronology zora neale hurston digital archive. She portrayed racial struggles in the early1900s american south and published research on hoodoo. She also wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, and essays. She portrayed racial struggles in the early1700s american south and published research on hoodoo. Jan 07, 2019 zora neale hurston is a writer you probably know a little about. Africanamerican folklore was zora neale hurstons first love. Zora neale hurston is considered one of the preeminent writers of twentiethcentury african american literature.