Passing
Nella Larsen’s fascinating exploration of race and identity—the inspiration for the 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.
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
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.
This Signet Classics edition of Passing includes an Introduction by Brit Bennett, the bestselling author of The Vanishing Half.
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
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.
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Community Reviews
I wasn't expecting to like this story as much as I did. It was required reading for school, and it made me think.
The story is told from one character's point of view. Was she a reliable narrator? Is this the story the way it really happened, or just the way it happened in her mind? Did the story really end that way? Where are the answers?
Definitely worth reading!
The story is told from one character's point of view. Was she a reliable narrator? Is this the story the way it really happened, or just the way it happened in her mind? Did the story really end that way? Where are the answers?
Definitely worth reading!
I love the complexity of the characters in this book, the way it makes you think about self interest vs loyalty, judgement and insecurity, and the unique situation of passing at this point in history. Quick read, excellent writing. I enjoyed it.
I came across Passing by Nella Larsen while reading Harlem Rhapsody and wanted to read it immediately. It's a short book, about 200 pages, but it resonates deeply. One of the main characters, Irene, embodies a mix of control, manipulation, insecurity, and unhappiness, creating a complex and relatable portrait. This story encourages us to reflect on our own sense of "moral superiority" when we find ourselves judging others. It subtly invites us to engage in conversations about what we consider right and wrong, helping us to unearth the truth behind the values we often hold tightly. Reading this book is not just an opportunity to explore its themes but also a chance to better understand ourselves and the perspectives of others.
I really liked the writing of this novel. I don't know if it's just me, but novels written in the 1920s just give off a certain vibe where you can tell it was written in that time. I could imagine in my head early Harlem and the dresses and parties of the time. Larsen's way of writing her characters helped them seem like real dimensional people with motivations and secrets, and the tensions (both sexual and antagonistic) between them were very tangible. Clare felt like a tragic movie star character that I would hear about in real life. She was not, however, an enjoyable character as she seemed very superficial and I do not believe that any of the characters in the novel really were (which may have been the point, but nevertheless was hard to ignore as they were all self-centered in different ways). Irene was very selfish and manipulative and Brian was too cynical.
The fact that the novel's settings and characters were so well established aided in getting across the grand issue of racism discussed in the book in the little number of pages that it has. The dynamics of black culture and passing were portrayed in great length through Clare, Irene, and Brian as well as the idea of who can truly be safe in American society and at what cost. Larsen as an author also developed the story along really well with different literary elements and I enjoyed trying to psychoanalyze these characters. The ending of the book was both a surprise and not, however it was nothing I was mad at and kept with the feel of the novel.
The fact that the novel's settings and characters were so well established aided in getting across the grand issue of racism discussed in the book in the little number of pages that it has. The dynamics of black culture and passing were portrayed in great length through Clare, Irene, and Brian as well as the idea of who can truly be safe in American society and at what cost. Larsen as an author also developed the story along really well with different literary elements and I enjoyed trying to psychoanalyze these characters. The ending of the book was both a surprise and not, however it was nothing I was mad at and kept with the feel of the novel.
“Passing” is nothing short of monumental. It is a timeless work, whose tragedy still can resonate today, nearly 100 years after its initial publishing. Absolutely breathtaking.
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