Jean Toomer’s “Cane” is a groundbreaking novel from the Harlem Renaissance, celebrated for its innovative structure and style. Through a series of vignettes blending poetry, prose, and dialogue, Toomer offers a vivid portrayal of African American life in the rural South and urban North during the era of Jim Crow laws. This Penguin Classics edition includes a foreword by Zinzi Clemmons, a new introduction, and insightful notes by scholar George Hutchinson.

Why You Should Read?

• Offers a unique blend of poetry, prose, and dialogue that captures the essence of African American life.
• Breaks stereotypes by portraying African Americans in a human and authentic way.
• A pioneering work of the Harlem Renaissance, laying the groundwork for future literary depictions.
• Features contributions from acclaimed writer Zinzi Clemmons and scholar George Hutchinson.