The Color Purple (Paperback)

Staff Reviews
I admit that this book came to me following my viewing of the film of the same name. While both in both mediums, the story gives poignant examples of the transformative power of love and the disfiguring effect of cruelty - the novel by far explores both much more deeply. Walker also skims the surface of social issues such as class, race, religion, and of course, family. The story is both beautiful and horrible, heart-warming and heart-wrenching. If you liked the film, you'll love the book. If you didn't like the film, read the book anyway.
— ScottDescription
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize * Winner of the National Book Award
Published to unprecedented acclaim, The Color Purple established Alice Walker as a major voice in modern fiction. This is the story of two sisters—one a missionary in Africa and the other a child wife living in the South—who sustain their loyalty to and trust in each other across time, distance, and silence. Beautifully imagined and deeply compassionate, this classic novel of American literature is rich with passion, pain, inspiration, and an indomitable love of life.
“Intense emotional impact . . . Indelibly affecting . . . Alice Walker is a lavishly gifted writer.” — New York Times Book Review
“Places Walker in the company of Faulkner.” — The Nation
“Superb . . . A work to stand beside literature of any time and place.” — San Francisco Chronicle
“A novel of permanent importance.” — Peter S. Prescott, Newsweek