
With thanks to Virago for the review copy
The new Zora Neale Hurston editions from Virago are utterly beautiful, stunning cover designs, that made me actually ‘oooh’ when I opened the envelope. I read Their Eyes were Watching God a few years ago, a fantastic depression era set novel, it’s the story of Janie and her great love for Tea-Cake. Dust Tracks on a Road is the autobiography of the woman who wrote that great modern classic, beautifully written, it is an extraordinarily intimate and revealing portrait with hundreds of quotable passages. There is such wisdom and inspiration in this book, better than that, I found I really liked Zora from the first page.
“I am not tragically coloured. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all. I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal and whose feelings are all hurt about it. Even in the helter-skelter skirmish that is my life, I have seen that the world is to the strong regardless of a little pigmentation more or less. No, I do not weep at the world—I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.”
Recounting her rise from a Southern childhood lived in poverty, to when she was taking her place among the leading artists and intellectuals of the Harlem renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston is never less than entertaining and honest.
“I have been in Sorrow’s kitchen and licked out all the pots. Then I have stood on the peaky mountain wrapped in rainbows, with a harp and a sword in my hands.”
Born in Florida in the 1890s, she was the fifth of eight children. Reliving her childhood memories here, little Zora comes across as a bright, inquisitive child with lots of spirit. She fell foul of her father – a baptist preacher – early on, he favoured the boys and her sister Sarah, her mother frequently having to get between them. It’s clear that her upbringing was central to creating the woman she became. She writes wonderfully about the town of Eatonville where she grew up, describing the people and what it was like to grow up there, it’s a vivid picture of a unique black community, the first all-black town in America.
Zora was only in her teens when her mother died, and life started to change. When her father re-marries, Zora’s stepmother is a woman keen to establish herself in her new home, she bullies her way into position, leaving Zora no choice but to leave. Zora travels, she works where she can, doing what she has to, including working for and travelling with an actress and her theatrical group – often meeting people who help and support her, recognising her great potential.
“I had hundreds of books under my skin already. Not selected reading, all of it. Some of it could be called trashy. I had been through Nick Carter, Horatio Alger, Bertha M. Clay and the whole slew of dime novelists in addition to some really constructive reading. I do not regret the trash. It has harmed me in no way. It was a help, because acquiring the reading habit early is the important thing. Taste and natural development will take care of the rest later on.”
Her dream is to continue her education, to go to college. It was the philanthropy of others that helped her on her way, and she put it to good use.
She studies anthropology – travelling around the US to research folklore and anthropology. Later chapters of the book read more like essays, and in these essays, Hurston discusses the lives of black people in America, religion and love. The chapter entitled ‘My People! My People’ is particularly powerful, in this chapter she discusses her race, and the experiences of black Americans in the period before the war. She is thoroughly thought provoking and wise, she has an acute understanding of people and society.
“It seems to me to be true that heavens are placed in the sky because it is the unreachable. The unreachable and therefore the unknowable always seems divine–hence, religion. People need religion because the great masses fear life and its consequences. Its responsibilities weigh heavy. Feeling a weakness in the face of great forces, men seek an alliance with omnipotence to bolster up their feeling of weakness, even though the omnipotence they rely upon is a creature of their own minds. It gives them a feeling of security.”
I loved Zora Neale Hurston’s spirit, her intelligence and her way of looking at all sorts of things. Strangely perhaps she discusses her writing quite lightly, it is of less focus than other things in the book, though it’s clear it was important to her. Zora Neale Hurston lived until 1960, and it is sad to remember she died in relative obscurity, her place of rest an unmarked grave until the 1970s.
I am now looking forward to reading Jacob’s Gourd Vine (1934), Zora Neale Hurston’s first novel, the story of John Buddy Pearson, who discovers a talent for preaching. A novel which is also apparently highly autobiographical, based on the life of her father.

This sounds like a fascinating insight into Hurston’s life and way of thinking, full of grace and spirit – qualities that comes through quite clearly from the quotes you’ve chosen to complement your commentary. How sad to hear that she had slipped into relative obscurity at the time of her death, especially given her current standing as one of the most important writers of her era.
It’s fascinating to see particularly where Hurston started, I always enjoy glimpses of childhoods. It’s sad to think she didn’t live to see what esteem she is held in now.
This does sound good. And those covers are a delight.
Those covers are beautiful, perfect designs.
First off, those covers are just stunning Ali! And the quotes are brilliant – I’ve not read her yet, but I obviously really should – just marvellous.
She is certainly worth reading, and these covers are certainly designed to tempt.
This sounds like an interesting and inspiring book. I am going to read Their Eyes Were Watching God in the next few weeks. This sounds like a good one to follow up. Thanks for this review. Caroline.
I look forward to seeing what you think of Their Eyes were Watching God. It is a wonderful book.
The new edition looks lovely, and you have definitely inspired me to seek out my own green VMC edition.
I’m glad to have inspired you Jane, I hope you enjoy it.
I read Their Eyes were Watching Good as well although years ago, this sounds really fabulous and the writing is beautiful, I bet you could have quoted the whole book!
There are many beautiful quotable bits that’s for sure.
This is one that I thoroughly enjoyed too. i felt like I really had had no idea about her life and experiences and then, afterwards, had the sense (but not the reality, obvs, as it’s rather a short book) of knowing all about her, like she chose just the most pertinent points somehow! If you ever have the chance to view an older documentary, “Jump at the Sun”, it’s quite something, too, for similar reasons. You’ll enjoy the novel too, I’m sure.
Jump at the Sun sounds like an interesting documentary it would make a good companion to this book.
Enjoyed this post so much. The way Zora Neale Hurston used language sounds to me like the way jazz uses notes – surprising, seemingly without effort, playful, going down new paths. In ‘Corregidora’ Gayl Jones’ prose was full of blues rhythms, Hurston’s prose is jazz with some Baptist preaching in there. And kudos to whoever came up with those perfect cover designs.
Thank you, that is such a lovely way to think of Hurston’s language use, and very appropriate. I read Corregidora a few months ago, so I can see how you have made those connections.
I’ve only read Their Eyes Were Watching God by this author and I’d really like to read more. This autobiography sounds a beautifully written insight into her life. Those covers are gorgeous too!
I learnt a lot about Zora Neale Hurston that having only read one of her novels I had no idea about. The covers have been a big hit with readers.
This sounds brilliant. I’ve read Jonah’s Gourd Vine and really enjoyed it. Those are beautiful books.
I’m looking forward to Jonah’s Gourd Vine, flicking through the other day it looks really good.
How wonderful that her work is being brought into the light with these new editions. I loved Her Eyes are Watching God and would be interested to read her autobiography too. A wonderful review Ali and an enticing choice of quotes.
Thank you, they are lovely editions. I saw some posts from you pop up in my blog reader a few days ago – lovely to see you posting. I am very behind with other people’s blogs.
[…] started the month reading Dust Tracks on a Road the autobiography of Zora Neale Hurston. Recounting her rise from a Southern childhood lived in […]
[…] the original artwork used on the orangutanlibrarian blogsite, or the cosy book/tea combination HeavenAli often features my own drawing and photography skills are not up to the […]