There Is ConfusionA rediscovered classic about how racism and sexism tests the spirit, ambition, and character of three children growing up in Hell’s Kitchen and Harlem, from the literary editor of The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP With an introduction by New York Times bestselling author Morgan Jerkins Set in early-twentieth-century New York City, There Is Confusion tells the story of three Black children: Joanna Marshall, a talented dancer willing to sacrifice everything for success; Maggie Ellersley, an extraordinarily beautiful girl determined to leave her working-class background behind; and Peter Bye, a clever would-be surgeon who is driven by his love for Joanna. As children, Maggie, Joanna, and Peter support one another’s dreams, but as young adults, romance threatens to upset the balance of their friendship. One afternoon, Joanna makes two irrevocable decisions—and sets off a chain of events that wreaks havoc with all of their lives. First published to immense critical acclaim in 1924, written with an Austen-like eye for social dynamics, There Is Confusion is an unjustly forgotten classic that celebrates Black ambition, love, and the struggle for equality. The Modern Library Torchbearers series features women who wrote on their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of resistance. |
Contents
Section 1 | 3 |
Section 2 | 10 |
Section 3 | 15 |
Section 4 | 22 |
Section 5 | 27 |
Section 6 | 31 |
Section 7 | 37 |
Section 8 | 45 |
Section 20 | 153 |
Section 21 | 156 |
Section 22 | 161 |
Section 23 | 168 |
Section 24 | 174 |
Section 25 | 182 |
Section 26 | 194 |
Section 27 | 199 |
Section 9 | 54 |
Section 10 | 60 |
Section 11 | 68 |
Section 12 | 80 |
Section 13 | 89 |
Section 14 | 99 |
Section 15 | 112 |
Section 16 | 125 |
Section 17 | 137 |
Section 18 | 143 |
Section 19 | 149 |
Section 28 | 207 |
Section 29 | 213 |
Section 30 | 222 |
Section 31 | 229 |
Section 32 | 237 |
Section 33 | 243 |
Section 34 | 250 |
Section 35 | 259 |
Section 36 | 263 |
Section 37 | 275 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aaron Bye ain't American Annie asked Atlantic City Aunt Bertully black Byes black testament Brest Brian Brian Spencer Bye's Chambéry colored course dancing dark dear District Line dress eyes face father Fauset feel fellow folks girl Graves hair hand hard Harry Portor heard Henderson Neal husband Isaiah Bye JESSIE REDMON FAUSET Joanna Marshall Joel Joshua kiss knew letter living looked Madame Céleste Maggie Ellersley Maggie's marriage marry Meriwether Bye mind Miss Maggie Miss Sharples Miss Susan Morningside Park mother never nice night once Peter Bye Phi Beta Kappa Philadelphia Philip poor pretty realized remember seen slave stay Street suppose sure Sylvia talk tell there's thing thought told Tom Mason took turned wait walked West Philadelphia What's white American white Byes woman wonderful York young