Books

First edition, early printing of Walker's third novel, which made her the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize. Octavo, original half cloth. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Judith Kazdym Leeds. With a promotional brochure for the 1985 film directed by Steven Spielberg, signed by Alice Walker. [A Steven Spielberg Film: The Color Purple: Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize Winning Story. Warner Bros. Inc.: 1985]. Oblong octavo, original purple wrappers, illustrated with color photographs from the film. In fine condition. A nice pairing. Her third novel, The Color Purple won Alice Walker the 1983 Pulitzer Prize, making her the first African-American woman to win one. "While Walker's first two novels end in the promise of good, The Color Purple ends in happiness, reunion and celebration. Walker has said that she took her great-grandmother's life, which included rape and childbearing at age 11, and gave it a happy ending. Once again she had begun with one of her ancestors' stories, completing and transmuting it through her art" (African American Writers, 351). "Critics have both praised and attacked Walker's use of black folk English to capture [protagonist] Celie's perspective. Walker responded, 'Language is an intrinsic part of who we are and what has, for good or evil, happened to us. And, amazingly, it has sustained us more securely than the arms of angels'" (New York Public Library, Books of the Century, 135). It is the basis for the 1985 Steven Spielberg film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Desreta Jackson, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey (in her film debut), Rae Dawn Chong, Willard Pugh, and Adolph Caesar in one of his final film roles. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film four stars, calling it "the year's best film.".

The Color Purple is a powerful novel about the struggle of African American women in the early 20th century. It follows the life of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation, who is sexually abused by her father and later winds up in an abusive marriage. Despite her struggles, Celie finds her voice and personal growth through letters and the support of other women.