One Way to Heaven (Masterplots II: American Fiction Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Countée Porter
- First Published: 1932
- Type of Plot: Ethnic realism
- Time of Work: The 1920’s
- Setting: New York City’s Harlem
- Principal Characters: Mattie Johnson, Sam Lucas, Aunt Mandy, Emma May, Constancia Brandon, The Reverend Clarence Johnson
- Genres: Long fiction, Realism, Social realism
- Subjects: African Americans, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Class conflict, Love or romance, New York City, Religion, Harlem Renaissance, Harlem, 1920’s, Faith, Servants, Satire, Pneumonia, Swindling or swindlers
- Locales: Harlem, NY
The Novel
Countée Cullen, well known as a black poet, wrote only one novel, One Way to Heaven. Given the fervor of the Harlem Renaissance, in which Cullen was an active participant, it is not surprising that he would turn his talents to writing a book that reflected elements of this movement.
One Way to Heaven has been called two novels in one, largely because it has a dual focus. On the one hand, it is concerned with Mattie Johnson and her love affair with Sam Lucas, a dark, handsome, one-armed confidence man from Texas who never stays long in one place....
[The entire page is 2339 words long]
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