Published in 1934, Zora Neale Hurston's first novel is the story of John Buddy Pearson, a man whose chief affliction is his own glib tongue, which wins him a place as the pastor of Zion Hope's congregation and also makes it far too easy to indulge in womanizing. Broadly painted with strokes from her own family history, Hurston's book portrays a man and his community with lyrical descriptions, knowing observations of human nature, and a fine ear for language, and this edition includes an introduction by Jesmyn Ward.