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Not Without Laughter
Paperback
General FictionLiterary Fiction
ISBN13: 9781025873930
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 338
Weight: 1.04
Height: 0.70 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Not Without Laughter is the debut novel by the celebrated Harlem Renaissance figure Langston Hughes. Set in the small town of Stanton, Kansas, the story follows the growth and maturation of Sandy Woods, a sensitive and observant Black boy. Through Sandy's eyes, the novel explores the complex dynamics of his family, particularly the differing perspectives of his mother Annjee, his hard-working grandmother Hager, and his wandering father Jimboy.
The narrative captures the vibrant textures of African American life in the rural Midwest during the early 1900s, blending themes of racial identity, class, and the enduring power of music and humor amidst hardship. Hughes masterfully depicts the struggle between tradition and the desire for social mobility, painting a poignant picture of the Black experience in America. Not Without Laughter is recognized for its lyrical prose and its authentic portrayal of common folk, moving away from the typical urban settings of the Harlem Renaissance to highlight the dignity and resilience found in everyday life. This foundational work of American literature remains a powerful exploration of youth, culture, and the search for place in a divided society.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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