Passing

About “Passing”

First published in 1929, Passing by Nella Larsen gained critical recognition and established her as a notable writer of the Harlem Renaissance. The novel follows Irene Redfield, a woman living a comfortable life in Harlem with her husband, a prominent physician, and their sons. Irene finds purpose in organizing charity balls that bring Harlem's elite together. Her life changes when she reunites with Clare Kendry, a childhood friend who had left the black community and begun passing as white, hiding her identity from her racist husband. As Clare reenters Irene's life, Irene becomes anxious about the risks of Clare's secret. Meanwhile, Clare is drawn back to the community she left, threatening to expose her deception.