Travis N's Honors English 9 Blog: Who is Zora Neale Hurston? I'll Tell You! Just Kidding - You're Going to Have to Read On to Find Out.

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston was born in 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama. She was raised in Eatonville, Florida.
Hurston received an education from Howard University, Bernard College, and Columbia University.
As a writer of fiction, Hurston is praised for her story telling abilities, her metaphorical language, and her "interest in and celebration of Southern black culture in the United States" (Microsoft Student Encarta).
One of her best known works is Their Eyes Were Watching God, which was published in 1937. This novel tells the story of a woman searching for her true identity and a community where she can develop and further explore that identity.
Hurston also wrote many other novels including Jonah's Gourd Vine, published in 1934; and Seraph on the Suwanee, published in 1948. She also wrote plays, journal articles, and short stories. Her autobiograpy, Dust Tracks on a Road, was published in 1942
Recurring themes of Hurston's work include race and gender. She related these themes to the search for freedom within the African American community.
Hurston died in 1960 from miscellaneous health problems. She died unnoticed and unrecognized by the literary community.
In the 1970s, the new generation of writers discovered Hurston's work. One of the most famous writers to take interest in Hurston's work was Alice Walker.
Becuase of writers like Alice Walker and the newfound of many people in Hurston's writings, many of her writings were rereleased.
Hurston's work had a great influence on future writers including Ralph Ellison, Alice Walker, and Toni Morrison.