Not Without Laughter (Dover Thrift Editions)
A shining star of the Harlem Renaissance movement, Langston Hughes is one of modern literature's most revered African American authors. Although best known for his poetry, Hughes produced in <i>Not Without Laughter</i> a powerful and pioneering classic novel.<br /> This stirring coming-of-age tale unfolds in 1930s rural Kansas. A poignant portrait of African American family life in the early twentieth century, it follows the story of young Sandy Rogers as he grows from a boy to a man. We meet Sandy's mother, Annjee, who works as a housekeeper for a wealthy white family; his strong-willed grandmother, Hager; Jimboy, Sandy's father, who travels the country looking for work; Aunt Tempy, the social climber; and Aunt Harriet, the blues singer who has turned away from her faith.<br /> A fascinating chronicle of a family's joys and hardships, <i>Not Without Laughter</i> is a vivid exploration of growing up and growing strong in a racially divided society. A rich and important work, it masterfully echoes the black American experience.