Book Description
A woman of enormous talent and remarkable drive, Zora Neale Hurston published seven books, many short stories, and several articles and plays over a career that spanned more than thirty years. Today, nearly every black woman writer of significance -- including Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker -- acknowledges Hurston as a literary foremother, and her 1937 masterpiece Their Eyes Were Watching God has become a crucial part of the modern literary canon.
Wrapped in Rainbows, the first biography of Zora Neale Hurston in more than twenty-five years, illuminates the adventures, complexities, and sorrows of an extraordinary life. Acclaimed journalist Valerie Boyd delves into Hurston's history -- her youth in the country's first incorporated all-black town, her friendships with luminaries such as Langston Hughes, her sexuality and short-lived marriages, and her mysterious relationship with vodou. With the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Depression, and World War II as historical backdrops, Wrapped in Rainbows not only positions Hurston's work in her time but also offers riveting implications for our own.
Customer Reviews:
Very detailed........2007-04-01
This is a very good book on the life of Zora Neale Hurston. It is very detailed and written very well. If you are interested in the life of this famous author this is for you.
Felt Tip Pen - Zora.......2004-10-17
Valerie Boyd blew breath into Zora Neale Hurston's remarkable accomplishments. I felt as if I was riding alongside Zora while Boyd narrated the different scenes;Zora was like a felt tip pen, as creative as could be. Of course, I wasn't ready to get off the ride, but I believe Zora lived a fulfilled life with little bumps and potholes or life lessons along the way.
The Best Biography I Have Ever Read.......2004-08-04
Valerie Boyd does what most biographers cannot; she makes facts as savory as fiction. As a great admirer of Zora Neale Hurston--the woman, I had long been searching for a piece of work that captures her emminence and vitality. I stumbled across "Wrapped in Rainbows" at Borders and resolved then and there that I HAD to have it. I do not at all regret this choice. Order this book, and I guarantee that it will be one of the best investments you ever make! The chapters on the Harlem Renaissance and Zora's involvment with it are magical, and the sections detailing Zora's friendship and eventual fued with Langston Hughes are fascinating. I can't say enough positive things about this biography. If you admire the spunky and talented Ms. Hurston, you will NOT be disappointed.
Captivating.......2004-05-03
Valerie Boyd has written a truly fine book that details the life of Zora Neale Hurston. I didn't want to put it down and was very sad when I came to the end. Zora Neale Hurston was a phenomenal woman who lived her life the way she wanted without comprimising her independence and love of writing and folklore. The book is an adventure that gives the reader an intimate portrait of what life was like for a talented African-American female writer who did not receive the appropriate accolades or financial success while she was alive. I learned so many interesting facts about Zora's life, the Harlem Renaissance, racism, other well-known writers' (black and white) experiences, and have come away with a genuine appreciation for the arts and Zora's legacy. Bravo Valerie Boyd. You have done a remarkable job!
Hurston's Life Soars.......2004-02-14
Valerie Boyd has given us a brilliantly balanced portrait of Hurston as writer, folklorist, intellectual and human being. Given her research from interviews and published sources, Boyd weaves her narrative with quotes and analysis that gives insight into the life of a rather complex historical figure. So much insight allows readers to conclude that Hurston deserves to be canonized for having survived many tragic and important events relative to her personal history and American history in general. Hurston was a controversial figure in her time and Boyd generously provides evidence why readers should understand her from a historical and political perspective.
The friendship sparked between Hurston and Hughes--and its demise--is very a interesting chapter in Hurston's life. Boyd has readers wanting a reconciliation because, as Boyd declares, their friendship was one that was perhaps the greatest in American literature. Boyd is careful not to dismiss Hughes but elevate him in balance with Hurston's creative accomplishments during and after the Harlem Renaissance.
This book is a wonderful addition to reading Hurston's "Dust Tracks..." and "Mules and Men." Hurston fans will love this book for its emotional intensity. Scholars will get a fair insight and a generous dose of the humanity added to her intellectual accomplishments summing up Hurston as a true legend in American literature, African American literature and Women's Literature.
What is missing from this book? I would have liked to have read a bit about Langston Hughes' sexuality. However, such an issue would certainly border on the line of gossip. In any case, the issue proves irrelevant in this book.
Certainly the question about what parts of her life Hurston might have concealed from her own biography is important in this book. Boyd certainly has filled in the gaps as to the how and the why of several episodes in Hurston's life. What were Hurston's relationships with editors? What was the state of the publishing industry during Hurston's time? What fed Hurston's struggle for money even as a successful writer? Why does Hurston continue to matter? All these questions are answered and more.
In sum, Boyd's book defines the careful balance of emotion and scholarly research that paints a portrait of a truly historical figure who has defined culture like no other. Simply said, without Zora, there would be no Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, bell hooks or Maya Angelou.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Southern History, published by Thomson Gale on November 1, 2005. The length of the article is 818 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston.(Book Review)
Author: Elizabeth Robeson
Publication:
Journal of Southern History (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 71
Issue: 4
Page: 934(2)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
Trusted by professors of the humanities survey course for over twenty years, CULTURE AND VALUES covers Western cultures along with important non-Western cultures, providing students solid, accessible introductions to art, music, philosophy, literature, and more. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without end-of-chapter readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Book Description
Trusted by professors of the humanities survey course for over twenty years, CULTURE AND VALUES covers Western cultures along with important non-Western cultures, providing students solid, accessible introductions to art, music, philosophy, literature, and more. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without end-of-chapter readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Book Description
Trusted by professors of the humanities survey course for over twenty years, CULTURE AND VALUES covers Western cultures along with important non-Western cultures, providing students solid, accessible introductions to art, music, philosophy, literature, and more. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without end-of-chapter readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Book Description
CULTURE AND VALUES, Fifth Edition continues to combine balanced coverage of literature, art, music, and philosophy with sociological insight into the daily life of the characters in the unfolding drama of Western civilization. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Customer Reviews:
Full of Errors and Bias.......2005-04-30
As a Humanities teacher I was drafted to teach the Intro class at the last minute at my college. I "inherited" this text. It's a sorry excuse for a textbook. It's full of errors (even in the 5th edition!). Examples: "Egypptians have used hieroglyphics throughout their history." A) "heiroglyphics" is an adjective (the noun is heiroglyphs). And throughout history? Tell it to a modern Egyptian! B) "The Prophet Mohammad married Fatima." I can't begin to describe how offensive this is. Fatima was Mohammad's daughter. Fatima married Ali (they get that wrong, too). C) Throughout, pre-Christian religions are referred to as "pagan." Pagan is a Latin term meaning "redneck." One of the authors is a theologian and should know better: the preferred term among comparitive religionists is "polytheism." Moreover, the overall skew of the book is toward dates, rulers and battles; in other words, the book is better suited to a World Civ class--and a world civ class taught in the 19th century, at that!
Priceless Course Book.......2005-03-08
I love this book. It's beautifully arranged by the ages. Each chapter has a chronological map on Events, Paintings, Architecture and Written Works of the timeline. The illustrations are breathtaking. You not only get Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Leonardo's Mona Lisa and Rembrandts' self portraits, but description, motivation, history and characteristics. I learned that I love Renaissance paintings the most and that Rafael painted images with a triangle arrangement. When we took an exam, I was able to differentiate Greek from Roman statues. I hope your edition comes with the musical CD. In class, we hear Wagner, Beethoven and Bach. This was utilized in my Humanities course with the illustrious Yamilé Quintana, professor of music and humanities at Miami-Dade College. A major treat for me was to find the Chant to The Lord's Prayer. (I'm still practicing it.)
Customer Reviews:
Culture and Values: A Survey of the Western Humanities.......2000-07-21
This is a very good book for introducing students to art, literature and music from the beginning of the Renaissance until the 1990s. Many illustrations are included which help the reader comprehend what the text is saying about works of art. Selections from works of writers studied are included in the back of the chapters in which they are mentioned. However, no footnotes, commentaries or definitions are included in these selections by the authors, which may sometimes be frustrating because some writers are harder to understand than others. As a student who used this book in my humanities class, I would have to say that overall this book is an excellent survey of humantities because it provides good information not only about the writers, artists and musicians but also a good background of the social/political events of the times during which these people lived.
Great Book For All Interested Western Civilization.......2000-03-30
I, as an undergraduate student studying culture and civilization, was very impressed by the content of this title. It covers everything from the effect of the Mona Lisa on society to Guernica. It goes into great detail about how art, music, and archetecture has affected society throughout modern times. The quality of the book is unprecidented as the photos and painting prints in it are beautifully presented in a very aesthetically pleasing fashion. This is a must buy for all interested in the affect of the arts on society and culture. As this is the only textbook that I am keeping this year, I completely recommend it for those who may not be taking any subject associated but are just interested in its subject. If I could I would give it 1000 stars.
Book Description
Each chapter of the Study Guide includes Study Questions that help students focus on and recall the most important information in the text; terms for students to identify and define; "Significant Works to Recognize and Remember"; a review section including a 10-question self-quiz; and Web Quests, which refer students to websites that expand upon chapter topics. The Study Guide also includes end-of-section reviews and study cards to help students prepare for tests. The Preface and Appendices feature helpful tips on effective studying, performing research on the Internet and in the library, and writing papers.
Book Description
CULTURE AND VALUES, Fifth Edition continues to combine balanced coverage of literature, art, music, and philosophy with sociological insight into the daily life of the characters in the unfolding drama of Western civilization. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Customer Reviews:
Full of Errors and Bias.......2005-04-20
As a Humanities teacher I was drafted to teach the Intro class at the last minute at my college. I "inherited" this text. It's a sorry excuse for a textbook. It's full of errors (even in the 5th edition!). Examples: "Egypptians have used hieroglyphics throughout their history." A) "heiroglyphics" is an adjective (the noun is heiroglyphs). And throughout history? Tell it to a modern Egyptian! B) "The Prophet Mohammad married Fatima." I can't begin to describe how offensive this is. Fatima was Mohammad's daughter. Fatima married Ali (they get that wrong, too). C) Throughout, pre-Christian religions are referred to as "pagan." Pagan is a Latin term meaning "redneck." One of the authors is a theologian and should know better: the preferred term among comparitive religionists is "polytheism." Moreover, the overall skew of the book is toward dates, rulers and battles; in other words, the book is better suited to a World Civ class--and a world civ class taught in the 19th century, at that!
A good primer for Western Culture.......2005-02-12
It's a school book, primarily, and as such, how good can it be? But with lots of color and black-and-white photos, many links to online references for deeper understandings of what you want to understand, it still manages to be interesting. Some of the histories are a little shallow, which is clear after reading some of the online updates, but it's a school book. Part of the process is to gather the information and make your own deductions.
Book Description
CULTURE AND VALUES, Fifth Edition continues to combine balanced coverage of literature, art, music, and philosophy with sociological insight into the daily life of the characters in the unfolding drama of Western civilization. Available in two volumes, or as an alternate single volume without readings, this text remains the most readable and reliable textbook for college and university students in the integrated humanities.
Customer Reviews:
great buy.......2007-02-15
book was in excellent condition, small, minor markings that werent really noticeable...came quickly...super affordable!
Book Description
This text specific audio CD contains music discussed in the text. It can be purchased separately or bundled with the text.
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Authors
| Arts & Literature
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| Books
Speak, So You Can Speak Again: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters
I Love Myself When I Am Laughing ... and Then Again When I Am Looking Mean and Impressive: A Zora Neale Hurston Reader
Zora Neale Hurston : Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings : Mules and Men, Tell My Horse, Dust Tracks on a Road, Selected Articles (The Library of America, 75)
Every Tongue Got to Confess: Negro Folk-tales from the Gulf States
