Praisesong for the Widow (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Paule Marshall
- First Published: 1983
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Social realism
- Subjects: African Americans, Values, 1970’s, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., Self-discovery, United States or Americans, Africa or Africans, Memory, Caribbean, Blacks, Slavery or slaves, Middle classes, Religion, Creoles, West Indies, Storytelling, Islands, Multiculturalism, Widows or widowers, Rites or ceremonies, Vacations
- Locales: New York, Oceans, Carriacou, Caribbean, Grenada
In Praisesong for the Widow, Avey Johnson and two friends are in the midst of a Caribbean cruise, which her friends have urged upon her, when Avey suddenly feels that she cannot continue. Without explanation, she disembarks at Granada, knowing only that she must get back to her immaculate home in North White Plains, New York. Instead, she finds herself walking too far down the beach in the heat and seeks refuge in a small bar. Lebert Joseph, the lame and ancient owner, urges her to stay for an extra day to join the annual excursion to his native island of Carriacou. There, the...
[The entire page is 1522 words long]
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