The life of zora neale hurston by lucy hurston and zora neale hurston. In addition, hurston was a noted folklorist and researcher, studying obeah in. Zora neale hurston 18911960, an american novelist, short story writer, poet, and folklorist, is best known for her book their eyes were watching god. The most popular of her four novels is their eyes were watching god, published in 1937. Recordings, manuscripts, photographs, and ephemera in the archive of folk culture and other divisions of the library of congress manuscript reading room. She is the fifth of eight children born to john and lucy potts hurston. Zora neale hurston was one of the most prolific africanamerican female writers of her day. She portrayed racial struggles in the early1900s american south and published research on hoodoo. Eventually, her father became one of the towns first mayors. Jan 7, 1891 zora neale hurston born zora neale hurston is born in notasulga, alabama. But it was her unique childhood in an allblack town that shaped her ideas, which defied the focus on racial uplift popular among figures such as w. Plant and foreword by alice walker, the pulitzerprizewinning novelist credited with reviving interest in hurstons works in the 1970s.
In 1917, hurston enrolled at morgan college, where she completed her high school studies. Jan 31, 2018 zora neale hurston was born in notasulga, alabama, probably in 1891. Zora neale hurston s novel their eyes were watching god is a famous harlem renaissance novel that examines race and gender issues through the eyes of its main character, janie crawford. In may 1934, hurston published her first fulllength novel, jonahs gourd vine. Zora neale hurston born january 7, 1891 was one of the preeminent african american writers of the 20th century.
In jonahs gourd vine, zora neale hurston introduces the character of john pearson, a strapping, incredibly handsome young man who has the innate ability to enthrall most people who cross his path. Florida frontiers zora neale hurston in brevard county. Jun 20, 2017 z ora neale hurston, acclaimed writer of the harlem renaissance, was maligned by many black leaders for writing in the colloquial voice of the black, rural townspeople she grew up with in eatonville, florida. Timeline of zora neale hurston fort pierce, fl official. If hurston could have spoken to alice walker as walker searched for her grave. Zora neale hurston biography life, family, childhood, story. Zora neale hurston was born in notasulga, alabama on january 15, 1891. Be a great product leader amplify, oct 2019 adam nash. Zora neale hurston, author info, published books, bio, photo.
Probably the most significant collector and interpreter of southern, african american culture, zora neale hurston 18911960 is the dominant female voice of the harlem renaissance era. Older black writers criticized hurston for the frequent crudeness and bawdiness of the tales she told. Her essays and short stories appear frequently in literary journals. Timeline of zora neale hurston fort pierce, fl official website. Zora neale hurston was born 7 january 1891 remember that date in notasulga, alabama. 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. Z ora neale hurston, acclaimed writer of the harlem renaissance, was maligned by many black leaders for writing in the colloquial voice of the black, rural townspeople she grew up with in eatonville, florida.
Now lauded as the intellectual and spiritual foremother to a generation of black and women writers, zora neale hurstons books were all out of print when she died in poverty and obscurity in 1960. Folklorist, anthropologist, novelist, short story writer, playwright, and renaissance woman zora neale hurston was born on. During the summer of the 19171918 school year, zora s father passed. Zora s mother died when she was nine years old, and her father soon remarried.
Her life and legacy are celebrated every year here at the zora neale hurston festival of the arts and humanities. Zora neale hurston plays for teachers expert resources. Hurstons last two novels were the biblical story moses, man of the mountain and seraph on the suwanee. Her writing was influenced by the small town of eatonville. This was the only book she wrote about white people. Top 25 quotes by zora neale hurston of 215 az quotes.
She usually gave 1901 as her birth year, but also gave 1898 and 1903. Zora neale hurston books list of books by author zora neale. Her mother was lucy ann potts hurston, who had taught school before marrying, and after marriage, had eight children with her husband, the reverend john hurston, a. Zora neale hurston and the people she looked at very hard and loved very much duration. Zora neale hurston was born on january 7th, 1891 in the town of notasulga, alabama. As the story begins with the harsh reality of conflict between pearson and his stepfather ned crittenden in conjunction with the affirmation of absence of his. Writer and anthropologist zora neale hurston was a fixture of the harlem renaissance and author of the masterwork their eyes were.
She grew up in eatonville, in the first incorporated allblack town in the united states. She portrayed racial struggles in the early1700s american south and published research on hoodoo. In addition, hurston was a noted folklorist and researcher, studying obeah in jamaica, and publishing her research. Zora neale hurston was a wellknown american folklorist, anthropologist and author. Authentic picture of negroes, not in relation to white people but to each other. Between 1934 and 1948, hurston published seven books including her autobiography dust tracks on a road. Of the millions of men, women, and children transported from africa to america as slaves, cudjo was then the only person alive to tell the story of this integral part of the nations history. When zora was still a small child, john hurston packed up his family and moved them all to eatonville, florida, a community north of orlando. Zora neale hurston will forever be remembered as one of the greatest writers of the harlem renaissance. Penniless and alone at the time of her death, her neighbors take up a collection to pay for her funeral.
Incorporated in 1887, it is the oldest such town in the united states. The resurgence of interest in the work of zora neale hurston can be largely attributed to the attention that walker has given it. After her relationship with her stepmother rapidly declined, her father sent. During the summer of the 19171918 school year, zoras father passed. Barnard center for research on women 9,391 views 1. Timeline articles and essays zora neale hurston plays at. She wrote four novels and published more than fifty short stories and plays. Zoras mother died when she was nine years old, and her father soon remarried. She climbed trees to look at the horizon, just as janie does in this novel, and.
Zora neale hurston is considered one of the preeminent writers of twentiethcentury africanamerican literature. From the 1930s through the 1960s, zora neale hurston was the most prolific and accomplished black woman writer in america. Zora neale hurston attended the hungerford normal and industrial school for her formal, academic training. Guests examined the origins and impact of the harlem renaissance which lasted from the end of. In 1894, hurstons family moved to eatonville, florida. Hurston, zora neale january 7, 1891 january 28, 1960, of eatonville, florida, born to a baptist preacher, john hurston and a schoolteacher, lucy ann hurston, was a renowned anthropologist and writer of the twentieth century africanamerican literature whose works contributed much to the resurgence of interest to the africanamerican culture during her time. Books by zora neale hurston author of their eyes were.
More information about zora neale hurstons time in brevard county can be found in the book zora neale hurstons final decade by virginia lynn moylan and the television documentary the lost years of zora neale hurston airing on wucf tv, friday, february 7 at 10. Dec 19, 2017 a previously unpublished work by zora neale hurston, in which the author of their eyes were watching god recounts the true story of the last known survivor of the atlantic slave trade, is set to. Zora neale hurstons stories were about the painfilled and sometimes magical world that surrounded blacks in the south. Zora neale hurston books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography. This biography gives the details of this personalitys profile, childhood, life and timeline. The hurston family moves to eatonville, an incorporated, selfgoverned, allblack town north of orlando, florida.
Check out hurstons popular glossary of harlem slang terms circa 1930s. While one could claim that the most important reason is the quality of her. Hurstons first novel, jonahs gourd vine, is published. Eatonville honors hurston decades after her death, the association to preserve the eatonville community, inc. Zora neale hurston was an african american author famous during the new negro movement harlem renaissance, which was in the 1920s and 1930s. Trillion dollar coach book bill campbell eric schmidt. 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. Introduction zora neale hurston was one of the most prolific africanamerican female writers of her day.
One of eight siblings, hurston was the child of a baptist preacher and a school teacher. In addition to her major publications, she also wrote many short stories, plays. Mar 02, 2020 robert hemenways acclaimed biography, zora neale hurston 1977, continued the renewal of interest in the forgotten literary great. Eatonville was one of the first towns in the united states to be created and run entirely by. Born in alabama, she wrote plays, short stories and essays apart from novels. Considering zora neale hurston and the legacy of fiction. Zora neale hurston books list of books by author zora. Perhaps her most well received publication was their eyes were watching god. She also wrote more than 50 short stories, plays, and essays. She was deemed one of the greatest writers of our time by the novelist toni morrison. Early years according to a bit of folk wisdom that zora neale hurston may have known. Lucy anne hurston, an author in her own right, was the niece of zora neale hurston. Back matter includes an excerpt from one of her folktale collections, a timeline, source notes, and a bibliography.
Zora neale hurston january 7, 1891 january 28, 1960 was an american author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. Timeline of zora neale hurston the life of zora neale hurston. A previously unpublished work by zora neale hurston, in which the author of their eyes were watching god recounts the true story of the last known survivor of the atlantic slave trade, is set to. The book is abundantly illustrated and also includes many quotes from zora neale hurstons own writings, which give the text a real flavor of the author particularly for young people who may not read her books until high school. Census records suggest 1891 is the more accurate date. Folklorist, anthropologist, novelist, short story writer, playwright, and renaissance woman zora neale hurston was born on january 7,1891 in notasulga, alabama. Over a career that spanned more than 30 years, she published four novels, two books of folklore, an autobiography, numerous short stories. Their eyes were watching god is a novel by zora neale hurston that was first published in 1937.
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. Timeline articles and essays zora neale hurston plays. In 1927, zora neale hurston went to plateau, alabama, just outside mobile, to interview eightysixyearold cudjo lewis. Zora neale hurston is an important part of the canon of twentiethcentury american literature for several reasons. Zora neale hurston s hometown of eatonville, florida, celebrates her life in an annual festival and is home to the zora neale hurston museum of fine arts, named in her honor. 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. On september 17, 1917 zora was admitted into the morgan academy, which was a black prep school. 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 folklorist and writer associated with the harlem renaissance who celebrated the african american culture of the rural south. Of all the books that were written by zora neale hurston their eyes were watching god was by far the most famous of her masterpieces. Zora graduated from howard academy with her high school diploma in may. Zora neale hurston born january 7, 1891 was one of the. Book summary about their eyes were watching god character list.
She was the fifth of eight children born to john and lucy potts hurston. Zora neale hurston biography life, family, childhood. An anthropologist, essayist, theatrical producer, and novelist, hurston was a renaissance woman. Robert hemenways acclaimed biography, zora neale hurston 1977, continued the renewal of interest in the forgotten literary great. Her notable novels included mules and men, their eyes were watching god, and moses, man of the mountain. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Zora neale hurston timeline of important dates shmoop. In her works, she celebrates her hometown, eatonville, as representative of the dignity and beauty of rural southern, africanamerican life and culture.
At a young age, her family relocated to eatonville, florida where they flourished. Today it stands as one of the most important pieces of fiction writing by a black woman. The 1900 census report, however, which lists all members of her family, gives her. From the time hurston submitted her first story, john redding goes to sea, in 1921 to the stylus, howard universitys literary club, until decades later, when she wrote a query letter to a publisher in the quavering hand of an old woman, zora hurston was a writer.
Zora neale hurston moved with her family to eatonville, florida, while she was very young. Today, her legacy endures through such efforts as the annual zora. May 02, 2018 the book includes an introduction by deborah g. In 1894, hurston s family moved to eatonville, florida. Publication and reception history zora neale hurston.