Meridian is a powerful and poetic novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, set against the backdrop of the American Civil Rights Movement. The story follows Meridian Hill, a young Black woman in the racially charged South of the 1960s and 1970s, as she navigates personal and political awakening.

Unlike many of her peers in the movement, Meridian chooses a path of spiritual resilience and nonviolent resistance. Through a fragmented narrative and lyrical prose, Walker explores themes of motherhood, activism, guilt, alienation, and the inner costs of social change. The novel interrogates what it means to be a revolutionary, especially for women who must reconcile the burdens of history, identity, and emotional endurance.

Why Read This Book?

• Written by a Literary Icon: Authored by Alice Walker, who won the Pulitzer Prize for The Color Purple.

• Civil Rights Through a Feminist Lens: Offers a unique, introspective perspective on the Civil Rights Movement from a woman’s point of view.

• Deeply Emotional and Politically Charged: Explores the psychological toll activism takes, particularly on women of color.

• A Story of Quiet Defiance: Unlike typical portrayals of activism, Meridian's strength lies in her compassion, endurance, and inner clarity.

• Beautifully Written: Laced with Walker’s signature poetic style and nonlinear storytelling.

About the Author

Alice Walker is a celebrated American novelist, poet, and activist. Born in 1944 in Georgia, she became a leading voice in African American literature and feminist thought. Her best-known work, The Color Purple, won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Walker has been a tireless advocate for civil rights, women's rights, and global human rights issues. In Meridian, she draws from her own experiences as an activist in the 1960s to craft a deeply personal and political narrative.