In her later years, Zora Neale Hurston, a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance, became deeply engrossed in the life of Herod the Great, the ancient Judean king often depicted as a biblical villain.
Many were confused when Hurston became engrossed in telling Herod’s story. Her previous works often focused on the Black experience in America, focusing on underrepresented voices and celebrating the resilience and creativity of the Black community. However, Herod the Great’s story resonated with Hurston, particularly in her interest in power, identity, and the complexity of human nature.
Despite being rejected by three publishers, Hurston continued to research and write her manuscript until her passing. Carla Kaplan, Davis Distinguished Professor of American Literature and Professor of WGSS at Northeastern University, writes in Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters that the surviving papers “demonstrate why Hurston was unable to find a willing publisher.”
“It is hard to imagine how Hurston could not have known there were problems with the Herod book.”
– Carla Kaplan
After being burned, salvaged, and placed in an archive for half a century, her manuscript has finally surfaced. With some reworking, Hurston’s project was finally published on January 7, what would have been her 134th birthday.
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