Sassafrass, Cypress Indigo: A Novel [Paperback]

Ntozake Shange's belovedSassafrass, Cypress & Indigois the story of three sisters and their mother from Charleston, South Carolina.

A jubilant celebration of womanhoodas moving as the moon . . . pure magic. --Kansas City Star

Sassafrass, the oldest, is a poet and a weaver like her mother before her. Having gone north to college, she is now living with other artists in Los Angeles and trying to weave a life out of her work, her man, her memories and dreams. Cypress, the dancer, leaves home to find new ways of moving in the world. Indigo, the youngest, is still a child of Charleston- too much of the south in her -who lives in poetry and has the supreme gift of seeing the obvious magic of the world. Shange's rich and wondrous story of womanhood, art, and passionately-lived lives is written with such exquisite care and beauty that anybody can relate to her message (The New York Times).

Ntozake Shange(1948-2018) was a renowned playwright, poet, and novelist. Her works include the Tony Award-nominated and Obie Award-winningfor colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, as well asSome Sing, Some Cry(written with her sister Ifa Bayeza),Sassafrass,Cypress & IndigoandLiliane.

Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund and a Pushcart Prize. She was a graduate of Barnard and recipient of a Masters in American Studies from University of Southern California.

Shange's wit, lyricism and fierceness are marvelous. The New York Times

A jubilant celebration of womanhood as moving as the moon...pure magic. Kansas City Star

A marvel... Languages--colloquial, established, lyric play together like the most lush chamber music, the coolest jazz, the brassiest marches, the hippest jug band... It leaves us filled with joy and yearning for more. lóP