The street ; The narrows

Book

The street ; The narrows / Ann Petry ; Farah Jasmine Griffin, editor.

Petry, Ann, 1908-1997 (author.). Griffin, Farah Jasmine, (editor.). Petry, Ann, 1908-1997 Street. (Added Author). Petry, Ann, 1908-1997 Narrows. (Added Author).

Summary:

"The Street follows Lutie Johnson, a young, newly single mother, as she struggles to make a better life for her son, Bub. An intimate account of the aspirations and challenges of black, female, working-class life, much of it set on a single block in Harlem, the novel exposes structural inequalities in American society while telling a complex human story, as overpriced housing, lack of opportunity, sexual harassment, and racism conspire to limit Lutie's potential and to break her buoyant spirit ... The Narrows (1953) is Petry's most ambitious and accomplished novel--a multi-layered, stylistically innovative exploration of themes of race, class, sexuality, gender, and power in postwar America. Centered around an adulterous interracial affair in a small Connecticut town between the young black scholar-athlete Link Williams and white, privileged munitions heiress Camilo Sheffield, it is also a fond, incisive community portrait, full of unforgettable minor characters, unexpected humor, and a rich sense of history. Also included in the volume are three of Petry's previously uncollected essays related to the novels and a newly researched chronology of the author's life, prepared with the assistance of her daughter Elisabeth Petry"-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

ISBN: 9781598536010
ISBN: 159853601X
Physical Description: 806 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm.
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : The Library of America, [2019]
Copyright: ©2019

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references (pages 802-806).
Formatted Contents Note:: The street -- The narrows -- Other writings. The great secret ; Harlem ; The novel as social criticism -- Chronology -- Note on the texts -- Notes.