Nella Larsen’s fascinating exploration of race and identity–the inspiration for the upcoming Netflix film directed by Rebecca Hall, starring Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga.This Signet Classics edition of Passing includes an Introduction by Brit Bennett, the bestselling author of The Vanishing Half.
Irene Redfield is a Black woman living an affluent, comfortable life with her husband and children in the thriving neighborhood of Harlem in the 1920s. When she reconnects with her childhood friend Clare Kendry, who is similarly light-skinned, Irene discovers that Clare has been passing for a white woman after severing ties to her past–even hiding the truth from her racist husband.
Clare finds herself drawn to Irene’s sense of ease and security with her Black identity and longs for the community (and, increasingly, the woman) she lost. Irene is both riveted and repulsed by Clare and her dangerous secret, as Clare begins to insert herself–and her deception–into every part of Irene’s stable existence. First published in 1929, Larsen’s brilliant examination of the various ways in which we all seek to “pass,” is as timely as ever.
PASSING
Nella Larsen
(1929)
Narrated by: Tessa Thompson
I have been highlighting Classics written by women this month for Women’s History Month. That continues with PASSING by Nella Larsen.
First of all, let me say that I have been enjoying the expert narration many of these Audible Originals have with the accompanying audiobooks. Tessa Thompson did a magnificent job and seemed the only one appropriate to narrate for this book.
Let’s talk about the book.
Irene receives a letter from Claire referencing a city and a time they shared. This brings back uncomfortable feelings for Irene and her relationship, what have you, with Claire. We go back in time to that fateful time in the city and the following course their lives take.
When I sat down to write this book review, I sat frozen. I thought I had no words to express my thoughts and feelings but in fact I just didn’t have the right words.
I’m still not sure I do.
PASSING by Nella Larson is an important accounting through one lens of just one aspect of our complicated history with color. This book reminds of wanting to fit in, of conflicted feelings that can’t be sorted by checking a box and finding power in what you are because of who you are, and who they were before you.
While reading there is a sense that Larsen herself was still deciding where she fell along the lines but perhaps that is the beauty of this book. There is much left for you to ponder and think about. And I think the themes are still relevant today as they were when PASSING was published in 1929.
I’m glad I finally read this book and curse myself for waiting so long to read it. Don’t wait as long to read it as I did. It’s a very short book with approachable subjects that I believe a lot of readers will find stirring.
PASSING…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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