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43 pages 1 hour read

Jessie Redmon Fauset

Plum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral

Jessie Redmon FausetFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1928

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Book Brief

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Jessie Redmon Fauset

Plum Bun

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1928
Book Details
Pages

222

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • 1920s

Publication Year

1928

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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Super Short Summary

Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset follows Angela Murray, a young Black woman in 1920s Philadelphia, who decides to pass as white to gain social and economic advantages. She moves to New York, attending art school and engaging in complex relationships, while her true racial identity risks exposure. Ultimately, Angela learns to embrace her identity, seeking fulfillment in both personal integrity and artistic aspirations. The novel addresses racial and gender barriers.

Contemplative

Challenging

Emotional

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.2

1,605 ratings

72%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset is praised for its rich exploration of race, identity, and social mobility in 1920s America. Critics highlight its compelling characters and insightful narrative. However, some find the plot occasionally predictable and the pacing uneven. Still, the novel’s historical significance and cultural commentary are highly valued.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Plum Bun?

Readers who enjoy exploring themes of race, identity, and gender in early 20th-century America, akin to those in Nella Larsen's Passing or Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, will appreciate Jessie Redmon Fauset's Plum Bun. This novel delves into the complexities of passing and the pursuit of personal and artistic fulfillment.

4.2

1,605 ratings

72%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

222

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • 1920s

Publication Year

1928

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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