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Quicksand. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928.
Details
LARSEN, Nella (1891-1964)
Quicksand. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928.
First edition of the author’s first novel, preserving the very scarce dust jacket. Born to a Danish mother and a West Indian father, Nella Larsen is widely regarded as ‘the premier novelist of the Harlem Renaissance [...] and a pioneer analyst of biracial identity’ (Shaffer). Her first novel, Quicksand (1928), is a largely autobiographical work concerning the struggle of Helga Crane, the mixed-race protagonist, to gain a sense of belonging in a highly racialized society. In 1923, Larsen became the first professionally-trained Black librarian and then in 1930 became the first Black woman to be awarded a Guggenheim fellowship. Larsen’s second novel, Passing (1929), has been adapted into a film (2021).
Octavo (189 x 130mm). (Faint spots to edges, a couple of margins lightly marked.) Original orange cloth, spine and upper board lettered in gilt; printed dust jacket (minor soiling, a few chips and tears to folds and upper panel).
Quicksand. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1928.
First edition of the author’s first novel, preserving the very scarce dust jacket. Born to a Danish mother and a West Indian father, Nella Larsen is widely regarded as ‘the premier novelist of the Harlem Renaissance [...] and a pioneer analyst of biracial identity’ (Shaffer). Her first novel, Quicksand (1928), is a largely autobiographical work concerning the struggle of Helga Crane, the mixed-race protagonist, to gain a sense of belonging in a highly racialized society. In 1923, Larsen became the first professionally-trained Black librarian and then in 1930 became the first Black woman to be awarded a Guggenheim fellowship. Larsen’s second novel, Passing (1929), has been adapted into a film (2021).
Octavo (189 x 130mm). (Faint spots to edges, a couple of margins lightly marked.) Original orange cloth, spine and upper board lettered in gilt; printed dust jacket (minor soiling, a few chips and tears to folds and upper panel).
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