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Women of the Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that saw an explosion of Black art, music and writing, yet few female creatives are remembered alongside their male counterparts.
Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited by Marissa Constantinou and introduced by Professor Kate Dossett.
Exploring subjects from love, loss and motherhood to jazz, passing and Jim Crow law, the poems and stories collected in this anthology celebrate the women of colour at the heart of the Harlem Renaissance. Alice Dunbar-Nelson parades through New Orleans in ‘A Carnival Jangle’ whilst Carrie Williams Clifford takes to Fifth Avenue in ‘Silent Protest Parade’, and Nella Larsen seeks a mother’s protection in ‘Sanctuary’. Showcasing popular authors alongside writers you might discover for the first time, this collection of daring and disruptive writing encapsulates early twentieth-century America in surprising and beautiful ways.
Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is edited by Marissa Constantinou and introduced by Professor Kate Dossett.
Exploring subjects from love, loss and motherhood to jazz, passing and Jim Crow law, the poems and stories collected in this anthology celebrate the women of colour at the heart of the Harlem Renaissance. Alice Dunbar-Nelson parades through New Orleans in ‘A Carnival Jangle’ whilst Carrie Williams Clifford takes to Fifth Avenue in ‘Silent Protest Parade’, and Nella Larsen seeks a mother’s protection in ‘Sanctuary’. Showcasing popular authors alongside writers you might discover for the first time, this collection of daring and disruptive writing encapsulates early twentieth-century America in surprising and beautiful ways.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 22, 2022
This is a fabulous anthology - firstly, it's rare to have a collection where pretty much all the pieces earn their keep; secondly, the mix of poetry and short stories may introduce poetry by stealth to people who wouldn't usually choose to read it; and thirdly, the editor is not afraid to give us multiple entries by some writers, one factor which may contribute to keeping the general quality high.
The only writer here I was previously familiar with is Nella Larsen so it's great to explore more of her work. I also especially loved the sly 'The Foolish and the Wise' by Leila Amos Pendleton, and the emotive 'The Closing Door.'
More generally, though, this is an important collection for the way it opens up a genealogy for Black women's writing which doesn't start with Toni Morrison/Alice Walker/Maya Angelou et al. The women collected here are breaking new ground in the first two decades of the twentieth century through their uses of dialect and regional accents, their head-on confrontation with the ugliness of Jim Crow, lynchings and other forms of violent oppression, and their representations of Black American culture that is generally excluded from mainstream literature of this period.
Dealing with topics of passing, of the relationships between men and women, of outright racism and racial politics, the writing contained here is stylistically varied and wide-ranging. A bold, revelatory and much-needed project.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC via NetGalley
The only writer here I was previously familiar with is Nella Larsen so it's great to explore more of her work. I also especially loved the sly 'The Foolish and the Wise' by Leila Amos Pendleton, and the emotive 'The Closing Door.'
More generally, though, this is an important collection for the way it opens up a genealogy for Black women's writing which doesn't start with Toni Morrison/Alice Walker/Maya Angelou et al. The women collected here are breaking new ground in the first two decades of the twentieth century through their uses of dialect and regional accents, their head-on confrontation with the ugliness of Jim Crow, lynchings and other forms of violent oppression, and their representations of Black American culture that is generally excluded from mainstream literature of this period.
Dealing with topics of passing, of the relationships between men and women, of outright racism and racial politics, the writing contained here is stylistically varied and wide-ranging. A bold, revelatory and much-needed project.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC via NetGalley
February 6, 2023
A really great collection - definitely one I'd recommend.
April 1, 2023
3,5 stars. First of all, I didn't know this series of dainty, tiny books; I expected an anthology, and got a collection, with only a brief introduction and a list of further reading.
The choice of works could probably be discussed - I have a feeling the editor decided to leave out some of the obvious choices. There is nothing by Zora Neale Hurston, for example - I understand the Americans may know her, but the international audience don’t.
The choice of works could probably be discussed - I have a feeling the editor decided to leave out some of the obvious choices. There is nothing by Zora Neale Hurston, for example - I understand the Americans may know her, but the international audience don’t.
July 14, 2022
A great collection of under appreciated poetry and short stories. My favourite was Nella Larson’s but it also introduced me to so many new authors whose work I’ll now be checking out.
February 15, 2023
Overall, I liked the short stories a lot better than the poetry.
December 15, 2022
When I think of the Harlem Renaissance, I think of Langston Hughes, Nella Larsen and Zora Neale Hurston. And, while Larsen is featured a few times in this wonderful collection, we are also introduced to lesser well-known writers from that era. There's a great mix of poetry, short stories and extracts from longer works.
What was interesting to see as well were how many of the pieces were published in journals of the time but never traditionally published in collections of their own right which makes this book all the more important as its publication now lends a certain legitimacy to these pieces and cements their place in literary history.
This is as a gem of a book. I think it's a great way to get a feel for the issues faced by Black women at the time. It also provides some insight into the moral values of the period and the writing conventions that were popular.
Much of the poetry included here followed the fashion of British romantic poets in the form of sonnets and rhyming couplets. This made me wonder whether Black women of that time thought their work would garner more gravitas if it were written in a more traditionally literary style.
I am grateful to live in a time where Black women can write books in any genre, in dialect, colloquial language or even experimental form and still be taken seriously as artists, this was no doubt made possible, in no small part, by the work of women such as those featured in this collection. A must-read for everyone, there is something for every reader here.
What was interesting to see as well were how many of the pieces were published in journals of the time but never traditionally published in collections of their own right which makes this book all the more important as its publication now lends a certain legitimacy to these pieces and cements their place in literary history.
This is as a gem of a book. I think it's a great way to get a feel for the issues faced by Black women at the time. It also provides some insight into the moral values of the period and the writing conventions that were popular.
Much of the poetry included here followed the fashion of British romantic poets in the form of sonnets and rhyming couplets. This made me wonder whether Black women of that time thought their work would garner more gravitas if it were written in a more traditionally literary style.
I am grateful to live in a time where Black women can write books in any genre, in dialect, colloquial language or even experimental form and still be taken seriously as artists, this was no doubt made possible, in no small part, by the work of women such as those featured in this collection. A must-read for everyone, there is something for every reader here.
April 17, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the chance to read and review Women of the Harlem Renaissance, edited by Marissa Constantinou.
This book consists of short stories and poems by different women. It's a great way to check out different writers and see whose style might be to your taste before reading more by them. I particularly liked the Abyss by Nella Larson and can't wait to read more of her work. I also really loved the poems Hope by Clara Ann Thompson, Motherhood by Georgie Douglas Johnson, and Regret by Olivia Ward Bush-Banks.
This book consists of short stories and poems by different women. It's a great way to check out different writers and see whose style might be to your taste before reading more by them. I particularly liked the Abyss by Nella Larson and can't wait to read more of her work. I also really loved the poems Hope by Clara Ann Thompson, Motherhood by Georgie Douglas Johnson, and Regret by Olivia Ward Bush-Banks.
January 21, 2023
Anthologies can be a bit hit or miss, however this one was edited and put together superbly. A mixture of poems and short stories it flowed together well and gives plenty of food for thought too. I really hope more books like this start to follow!
August 22, 2023
I primarily approached this work as a compelling historical artifact, and it more than delivered. The selected works gave me a look into the original "city girls", the plight of being a black wife and mother, the struggle between Black respectability and self-determination, and many more aspects of the Black American perspective during the Harlem Renaissance.
It was also cool to look up the authors and learn more about their lives, ambitions, and strong community (in DC and NYC). While they definitely came from more privilege than the average Black woman of their time (whether wealth, social status, skin color or education), their integrity and care for their craft is really inspiring.
In terms of the actual quality, the short stories were more interesting than the poems. The world-building in the short stories were really engaging.
It was also cool to look up the authors and learn more about their lives, ambitions, and strong community (in DC and NYC). While they definitely came from more privilege than the average Black woman of their time (whether wealth, social status, skin color or education), their integrity and care for their craft is really inspiring.
In terms of the actual quality, the short stories were more interesting than the poems. The world-building in the short stories were really engaging.
October 2, 2022
Women of the Harlem Renaissance, edited by Marissa Constantinou is an anthology of poetry and prose, written by women from the era of the Harlem Renaissance. This means - roughly - from 1910 to 1930. Work by black writers. Some of it overtly political, some of it less so. But politics is pretty much there everywhere.
It's a fascinating read. I'll admit that I found the poetry selections - mostly - less interesting than the prose ones. Two short stories in particular - The Abyss, by Clara Ann Thompson and The Closing Door, by Georgia Douglas Johnson - are astonishing work. Both are about women and the birth of their children. Both are about how racism has a fundamentally destructive effect on the lives of black people in primarily white societies. An impact that white people don't notice by omission. It is often asked about Germans, when talking about the Holocaust, 'how could they not have known?' Well, the same question can and should be asked of white people all over the world. 'How could we not have known what we were doing?' The answer that a lot of people did, but chose either to look away or to benefit from it. Others pretended it wasn't happening. They pleaded ignorance. Sins of commission v sins of omission.
Both The Abyss and The Closing Door are emotionally tough reads. The Abyss should be read alongside The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman as incredibly power takes on post-birth trauma. The Closing Door is similar but there is something crueller and darker at the centre of it.
Violence often haunts these stories too. An Apostrophe to the Lynched, which is a short poem* is a powerful thump of anger against America that could be written now. I highlighted the following section in particular:
"Call down vengeance upon this barbarous nation; a nation of hypocrites, timeservers and goldworshippers; a nation of ranting, ramping, stamping creatures who call themselves evangelists and who practice the evangel of restriction and proscription...."
I remember when 9/11 happened a black author - whose name I don't remember - pointed out that when people talked about this being the first major terrorist attack on US soil they were forgetting the long campaign of terror aimed at black people. Having read Percival Everett's 'The Trees' recently this is at the front of my mind. How can you terrorise a group of people for four centuries and then get angry when THEY get angry. It might feel a little glib to say it but it seems that American society is suffering from a kind of social post-traumatic stress disorder and is refusing to face up to that.
But I found this a fascinating and powerful collection. It's highlighted a number of writers whose work I didn't know due to my own ignorance I admit. And as Kate Dossett says in her excellent introduction:
"Anthologies are important in determining who gets remembered, whose ideas matter and how we understand our pasts. They are part of a broader knowledge-producing industry in America, one long controlled by white and usually male Americans. Anthologies confer legitimacy on certain writers while excluding others."
So this gives a voice to writers who haven't been given a hearing or deserve to have more of a hearing. Kipling once said, "“What do they know of England, who only England know?” This anthology asks "“What do they know of America, who only white America know?”
Worth a read
*Note: I think the layout of the version for Kindle is bad. Notes appear randomly in the text - I think they're supposed to be footnotes but the pages of the hard copy don't match the Kindle version. They're are odd line breaks and space issues. Sometimes you're not sure if something is a poem or prose. The hard copy probably makes all this clear.
It's a fascinating read. I'll admit that I found the poetry selections - mostly - less interesting than the prose ones. Two short stories in particular - The Abyss, by Clara Ann Thompson and The Closing Door, by Georgia Douglas Johnson - are astonishing work. Both are about women and the birth of their children. Both are about how racism has a fundamentally destructive effect on the lives of black people in primarily white societies. An impact that white people don't notice by omission. It is often asked about Germans, when talking about the Holocaust, 'how could they not have known?' Well, the same question can and should be asked of white people all over the world. 'How could we not have known what we were doing?' The answer that a lot of people did, but chose either to look away or to benefit from it. Others pretended it wasn't happening. They pleaded ignorance. Sins of commission v sins of omission.
Both The Abyss and The Closing Door are emotionally tough reads. The Abyss should be read alongside The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman as incredibly power takes on post-birth trauma. The Closing Door is similar but there is something crueller and darker at the centre of it.
Violence often haunts these stories too. An Apostrophe to the Lynched, which is a short poem* is a powerful thump of anger against America that could be written now. I highlighted the following section in particular:
"Call down vengeance upon this barbarous nation; a nation of hypocrites, timeservers and goldworshippers; a nation of ranting, ramping, stamping creatures who call themselves evangelists and who practice the evangel of restriction and proscription...."
I remember when 9/11 happened a black author - whose name I don't remember - pointed out that when people talked about this being the first major terrorist attack on US soil they were forgetting the long campaign of terror aimed at black people. Having read Percival Everett's 'The Trees' recently this is at the front of my mind. How can you terrorise a group of people for four centuries and then get angry when THEY get angry. It might feel a little glib to say it but it seems that American society is suffering from a kind of social post-traumatic stress disorder and is refusing to face up to that.
But I found this a fascinating and powerful collection. It's highlighted a number of writers whose work I didn't know due to my own ignorance I admit. And as Kate Dossett says in her excellent introduction:
"Anthologies are important in determining who gets remembered, whose ideas matter and how we understand our pasts. They are part of a broader knowledge-producing industry in America, one long controlled by white and usually male Americans. Anthologies confer legitimacy on certain writers while excluding others."
So this gives a voice to writers who haven't been given a hearing or deserve to have more of a hearing. Kipling once said, "“What do they know of England, who only England know?” This anthology asks "“What do they know of America, who only white America know?”
Worth a read
*Note: I think the layout of the version for Kindle is bad. Notes appear randomly in the text - I think they're supposed to be footnotes but the pages of the hard copy don't match the Kindle version. They're are odd line breaks and space issues. Sometimes you're not sure if something is a poem or prose. The hard copy probably makes all this clear.
May 15, 2022
Women of the Harlem Renaissance is a collection of poems and stories by women writers from the Harlem Renaissance, collected together as an introduction to writers outside of some of the mainstream narratives. There's multiple pieces by some writers and they are broadly organised to alternative between poetry and stories, making it a varied reading experience and appealing to people regardless of if they prefer one or the other. I particularly enjoyed a lot of the poetry, many of which engage with the personal and political, and the collection highlights some of the female Black poets writing at the time. A short introduction gives a little context, and there's some suggested further reading at the end, making this an ideal way to discover more female writers from the period and then explore further.
July 18, 2023
I had no idea what to expect with Women of the Harlem Renaissance, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
From the wonderful introduction, by Marissa Constantinou, I was riveted by the stories of women celebrating their art and talent in a time of joyous artistry.
It was a pleasure to discover short stories by the author of one of my favourite novels, Passing, Nella Larson, and those of Clara Ann Thompson. And I enjoyed that the stories were interspersed with poems, ‘Motherhood’ by Gertrude Mossell being one of my favourites.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
From the wonderful introduction, by Marissa Constantinou, I was riveted by the stories of women celebrating their art and talent in a time of joyous artistry.
It was a pleasure to discover short stories by the author of one of my favourite novels, Passing, Nella Larson, and those of Clara Ann Thompson. And I enjoyed that the stories were interspersed with poems, ‘Motherhood’ by Gertrude Mossell being one of my favourites.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
March 20, 2023I love focused anthologies, one that zero in on a particular area, topic, movement. My knowledge of works springing from the Harlem Renaissance began and ended with Zora Neale Hurston, so this was certainly a valuable book for expanding it. Have to admit quite a lot of the poetry was not to my taste, not a fan of the styles that seemed to be most popular/emulated at the time. Stand outs for me were the works of Nella Larsen (The Abyss, The Wrong Man, Sanctuary), Jessie Fauset (The Sleeper Wakes), Angelina Weld Grimké (The Closing Door).
May 29, 2022
*Thank you to NetGalley, Marissa Constantinou and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
A collection of short stories and poetry from black women artists in the Harlem Renaissance was depicted honestly and beautifully. I read it in one sitting and would recommend it!
A collection of short stories and poetry from black women artists in the Harlem Renaissance was depicted honestly and beautifully. I read it in one sitting and would recommend it!
Read
April 23, 2024great collection, great for a class setting, makes you wish you could spend days and days and days in discussions about it
February 16, 2025
Definitely did not regret this book purchase. SO many amazing SOULFUL touching poems and stories !!! My heart broke and ROSE in some. Aaaah!!! What creative talented masterpiece this is.
June 18, 2025
Devastating
December 15, 2022
This was a fascinating and insightful read, showcasing talented black female authors who helped pioneer the renaissance and never getting their credit. The introduction was vital in this collection, it gave a clear explanation of what the Harlem renaissance was with a brief history, the significance of the renaissance and why this particular female anthology is so important in helping shape the narrative.
The short stories and poems in this collection introduced me to a lot of black female authors that I had never known about previously. Many of the works centre around experiences of racism and the tensions of interracial relationships/communities and black communities progressing. The struggles and limitations forced onto black love, black beauty and black motherhood all told through different perspectives. The women in this anthology were not afraid to highlight the terrible struggles and ugly truths of what 1920s America was like, ranging from passing, Jim Crow and lynchings.
I really enjoyed reading the vast range of voices in the anthology, with the use of dialect, it was made clear where about the author was from which added to the overall experience and education as I was able to compare the nuisances of how the north and south differed but also the concerning similarities which are shied away from mainstream media today. Each author presented a new experience, emotion and reflection, leaving feelings of happiness, sorrow and anger. There was a mix between personal experiences and cautionary tales stemming from the fears of what has happened to many black individuals in America. A great insightful and educational read by talented black women where their talent and passion shines through.
My favourite pieces were noticeably ‘Gerarda’ by Eloise Bibb Thompson of a grieving bride wanting to be set free from her cage and being reunited with her love; ‘The foolish and the wise’ and ‘Nothing New’ both by Clara Ann Thompson that asked the uncomfortable questions and highlighting the irony and hypocrisy of black communities living in a supposed “free nation” and the very real physical dangers of being black. ‘The closing door’ by Georgia Douglas Johnson which was a very emotive short story exploring what its like being a mother and the fears of bringing a black child into the cruel society, which was continued on perfectly with the short poem ‘Motherhood’ by Gertrude Mossell. And finally the ‘Silent Protest Parade’ by Carrie Williams Clifford, a short story that expresses hope of change moving towards a more equal society.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The short stories and poems in this collection introduced me to a lot of black female authors that I had never known about previously. Many of the works centre around experiences of racism and the tensions of interracial relationships/communities and black communities progressing. The struggles and limitations forced onto black love, black beauty and black motherhood all told through different perspectives. The women in this anthology were not afraid to highlight the terrible struggles and ugly truths of what 1920s America was like, ranging from passing, Jim Crow and lynchings.
I really enjoyed reading the vast range of voices in the anthology, with the use of dialect, it was made clear where about the author was from which added to the overall experience and education as I was able to compare the nuisances of how the north and south differed but also the concerning similarities which are shied away from mainstream media today. Each author presented a new experience, emotion and reflection, leaving feelings of happiness, sorrow and anger. There was a mix between personal experiences and cautionary tales stemming from the fears of what has happened to many black individuals in America. A great insightful and educational read by talented black women where their talent and passion shines through.
My favourite pieces were noticeably ‘Gerarda’ by Eloise Bibb Thompson of a grieving bride wanting to be set free from her cage and being reunited with her love; ‘The foolish and the wise’ and ‘Nothing New’ both by Clara Ann Thompson that asked the uncomfortable questions and highlighting the irony and hypocrisy of black communities living in a supposed “free nation” and the very real physical dangers of being black. ‘The closing door’ by Georgia Douglas Johnson which was a very emotive short story exploring what its like being a mother and the fears of bringing a black child into the cruel society, which was continued on perfectly with the short poem ‘Motherhood’ by Gertrude Mossell. And finally the ‘Silent Protest Parade’ by Carrie Williams Clifford, a short story that expresses hope of change moving towards a more equal society.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2023
I was lucky enough to win a #mymcl giveaway from @panmcmillan last month, and they sent me this beautiful anthology. I really enjoyed reading this collection. Most of the authors were new to me; I’m pretty sure Nella Larsen was the only author I’d read before. The works varied from formal poetry to heart wrenching short stories.
The talented women featured found a variety of ways to frankly discuss life as a Black woman and the realities of racism in the early part of the 20th century. One of the main themes throughout the works is the excruciating experience of being a wife, mother, sister, & daughter in a racist country. In more than one story, a mother wishes her child had never been born rather than face the life he will have to live in the U.S. Talk about heartbreaking. My biggest takeaway from this collection is awe in the superhuman strength of Black women - both then and now.
I wish that people who are trying to take the realities of Black history out of schools would read this book. It would take a particularly unfeeling person to not be moved by the brutal truths shared. Legally our country has moved forward from the time of the Jim Crow laws discussed in this book, yet racism perpetuates and justice is too often denied.
These authors are inspirations not only for their contributions to the Harlem Renaissance, but for their impact on the burgeoning civil rights movement. This collection recognizes and celebrates them in an unforgettable way.
The talented women featured found a variety of ways to frankly discuss life as a Black woman and the realities of racism in the early part of the 20th century. One of the main themes throughout the works is the excruciating experience of being a wife, mother, sister, & daughter in a racist country. In more than one story, a mother wishes her child had never been born rather than face the life he will have to live in the U.S. Talk about heartbreaking. My biggest takeaway from this collection is awe in the superhuman strength of Black women - both then and now.
I wish that people who are trying to take the realities of Black history out of schools would read this book. It would take a particularly unfeeling person to not be moved by the brutal truths shared. Legally our country has moved forward from the time of the Jim Crow laws discussed in this book, yet racism perpetuates and justice is too often denied.
These authors are inspirations not only for their contributions to the Harlem Renaissance, but for their impact on the burgeoning civil rights movement. This collection recognizes and celebrates them in an unforgettable way.
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