 First edition of the text, with original dustwrapper, published 1926 | |
| Author | Carl Van Vechten |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
Publication date | October 1926 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Hardback |
| Pages | 286 |
| OCLC | 647060292 |
Nigger Heaven is a novel written by Carl Van Vechten, and published in October 1926. The book is set during the Harlem Renaissance in the United States in the 1920s. The book and its title have been controversial since its publication.
The novel is a portrayal of life in the "great black walled city" of Harlem, part of New York City. It describes the interactions of African American intellectuals, political activists, bacchanalian workers, and other Harlem characters. The plot concerns two people, a quiet librarian and an aspiring writer, who try to keep their love alive as racism denies them every opportunity.
This roman à clef became an instant bestseller and served as an informal guide book to Harlem. It also split the Black literary community, as some including Langston Hughes and Nella Larsen appreciated it, while others like Countee Cullen and W. E. B. Du Bois regarded it as an "affront to the hospitality of black folks". The book fuelled a period of "Harlemania", during which the neighborhood became en vogue among white people, who then frequented its cabarets and bars.
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