Book Review: Passing by Nella Larsen

Passing. Nella Larsen. Macmillan Collector's Library (2020) (First published 1929). 176 pages. Genre: Fiction, Classic.

First Line: "It was the last letter in Irene Redfield's little pile of morning mail."

Summary:  Irene Redfield receives a letter from Clare Kendry, an old classmate of hers.  They grew up in Chicago and attended school together for a while.  At some point Clare moved away and this is the first time she has heard from her in years. Irene is reluctant to meet with her and she is not exactly sure why.  However, the two do meet and rekindle their friendship.  Still, Irene finds herself avoiding Clare.  

Both Clare and Irene are women of color who are able to pass as white. However, Clare has hidden her lineage from her husband, while Irene married a black man and is living in Harlem.  Irene disapproves of the way Clare has kept this secret from her husband.  As their paths continue to cross the tension mounts until tragedy strikes.

My thoughts:  I can't say that I particularly liked this story or any of the characters.  However, I am glad to have read it after hearing so much about it.  

The story is very well written and complex.  As the title indicates, the overarching theme is women of color passing as white.  This often gave them advantages that they otherwise wouldn't have.  What I liked most about the story, however, was the way the author brought out prejudices that we all carry, not necessarily about race, but about the way other people live.  Irene is a strong woman with very specific ideas of how one should live life.  These ideas extend even to her husband and he has made concessions to accommodate her ideas.  While it does seem wrong that Clare hasn't told her husband that she is black, the author shows that Irene has plenty of issues in her own life that are inconsistent.  

The author does give the reader a very clear picture of what it was like to be a person of color during this time period.  There is also a real flavor of the city of Chicago and the Harlem area.  

If you have hesitated reading this book, I encourage you to give it a try.  It is a short read, but an important one.  

Quotes:

"An attractive-looking woman, was Irene's opinion, with those dark, almost black, eyes and that wide mouth like a scarlet flower against the ivory of her skin.  Nice clothes too, just right for the weather, thin and cool without being mussy, as summer things were so apt to be."

"For, though temporary, it would be important and perhaps disturbing.  Irene didn't like changes that affected her smooth routine of her household."

"She had no facts or proofs.  She was only making herself unutterably wretched by an unfounded suspicion.  It had been a case of looking for trouble and finding it in good measure.  Merely that."