The Mule-Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life in Three Acts

Zora Neale Hurston · Langston Hughes

May 2022 · DigiCat

About this ebook

The Mule Bone is a comedy by American authors Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. An accident happens at a slave plantation, and a trial with humorous facets is held to determine whether one of the slaves is guilty or innocent.

About the author

Zora Neale Hurston was a preeminent African American writer, anthropologist, and a fixture of the Harlem Renaissance. Born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama, Hurston moved to Eatonville, Florida, at a young age, which would remain a profound influence on her writing. Hurston's sharp wit, deep interest in cultural practices, and insatiable curiosity about the human condition led her into diverse literary endeavors. Her education included Howard University and Barnard College, where her studies under the tutelage of anthropologist Franz Boas greatly shaped her later works. Hurston's writing often mirrored her scholarly pursuits, infusing fiction with insights drawn from cultural anthropology, folklore, and Southern African American communities. 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' (1937) remains her most celebrated novel, heralded for its rich portrayal of black womanhood and lyrical prose. Another significant, though less known work, 'The Mule-Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life in Three Acts' (co-authored with Langston Hughes), reflects both her humorous narrative voice and her incisive social commentary. However, Hurston's prodigious contributions were not fully recognized until after her death, with her works widely celebrated for their depth and authenticity of the African American experience. Hurston passed away impoverished on January 28, 1960, in Fort Pierce, Florida. Her legacy endures in her extensive catalog of literature, inspiring countless authors and reaffirming her status as a literary luminary.