The Women of Brewster Place

First published in 1982, The Women of Brewster Place is Gloria Naylor’s debut novel and remains the African American author’s best-known work. The Women of Brewster Place was awarded the National Book Award for Best First Novel and was adapted into a miniseries in 1989 and a television show in 1990. Described as “a novel in seven stories,” the text consists of seven chapters that act as short stories, each one detailing the life of a Black woman living in Brewster Place, a dilapidated apartment block on a dead-end street in an unnamed American city. Through these women’s stories, the novel spans approximately 30 years of American history, exploring themes such as the impact of systemic racism and sexism, the search for belonging, and the power of sisterhood to overcome adversity. 

This guide refers to the 2020 Penguin Books Kindle edition. 

Content Warning: Both the source material and this guide include multiple descriptions of violence, racism, anti-gay bias, and sexual assault.

Plot Summary

The novel begins with the construction of Brewster Place, an apartment block in an unnamed American city. At first, the block faces an optimistic future. However, it is soon walled off from the city’s main avenue, creating a dead-end street and stunting the community’s growth.