Their Eyes Were Watching God

This is the story of Janie Crawford, a beautiful, middle-aged woman who has recently returned to her home of Eatonville, Florida, after a long absence. The gossiping townspeople relentlessly speculate about her, where she has been, and her younger husband Tea Cake. Janie is confident and ignores the gossip, but when the town just assumes that she is aloof, her friend Pheoby defends her. She visits Janie to find out what actually happened, and the conversation that follows frames the remainder of the story.

Janie tells the story of how she was raised by her loving yet overprotective grandmother, Nanny. Intent on securing a solid future for Janie Nanny finds an older man, Logan, and urges her to marry him. They move in together, but Janie is unhappy with his unromantic and bossy nature. One day she meets another man, Joe Starks, whom she develops a flirtatious relationship with for a couple of weeks before they run off in secret and marry. They move to the all-black town of Eatonville, where Joe quickly becomes a powerful mayor and landlord. He treats Janie like a trophy wife, restricting her social life and constantly criticizing her. When she finally asserts herself he brutally beats her, and their marriage soon falls apart. After Joe falls ill and eventually dies, Janie finally feels liberated. She is courted by many men, whom she rejects until meeting Tea Cake, who is twelve years younger than her. They are instantly attracted to each other and, despite the shock and gossip of the entire town, they marry and head off to Jacksonville to start their life together. But Janie's troubles are not over. The rest of the story chronicles her hardships, betrayal, and ultimate triumph.

Published in 1973 Their Eyes Were Watching God is the best known work of African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston. Subject to much attention and controversy during the period of its release, this novel eventually gained the recognition and praise it deserved. Its staying power has earned this book mass consideration as a seminal part of African-American literature.