In the 1940s’ war and post-war America , a few Black writers stepped into a fairly new realm of literature – Blacks writing about White characters. It was believed by many that the racial lines were not only drawn at water fountains and neighborhoods, but should also be found within the pages of our fiction. Some even said that it took a highly literary ability to write about Whites. Zora Neale Hurston, along with others such as Ann Petry (Country Place), Willard Motley (Knock on Any Door), and Frank Yerby (The Vixens, Pride’s Castle) disagreed. Love was love. Hate was hate. These groundbreaking writers believed that emotion rather than race was at the center of a good story. Hurston had already gained rightful notice with her autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road, as well as Moses, Man of the Mountain, and of course, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Writing Seraph on the Suwanee was risky, but according to Hurston she had “hopes of breaking that old silly rule about Negroes not writing about white people.” She did indeed break the rule and created an occasionally sad, but lovely tale of Arvay and Jim who are clearly meant to be together but nearly destroy it all as they struggle to communicate and find a common meeting place of the minds.

Stubborn, oddball Arvay Henson has resigned herself to religious martyrdom in her small, poor Floridian town. Most suitors have given up and if they try to stick around Arvay goes to extremes to dissuade them including faking violent seizures. But when she meets the equally stubborn and charming newcomer, Jim Meserve, Arvay finds that nothing, not even her crazy attacks, can keep this passionate fellow away. For Jim decides almost immediately that Arvay is the woman for him and soon wears her down, convincing her to marry him. Leaving behind her clingy mother and detached father, they head off with Jim’s dreams and Arvay’s fears.

Once Arvay becomes pregnant, she begins her downward spiral holding fast to her bible and insecurities instead of to her devoted husband. Meanwhile, the loyal Jim who is committed to making their lives successful, sadly comes to realize what an uphill battle he has on his hands with his new wife. Ever hopeful and endearing, Jim trudges on with his big plans. Unfortunately, he fails to truly connect with Arvay who continues to wallow in self-pity and jealousy of Jim’s friendships with his loyal Black friends Earl and Jeff, his varied businesses, and even the time he spends with their children. All of this slowly pushes the passionate, kind-hearted Jim away and builds to several tragic moments. Seraph on the Suwanee follows Jim and Arvay over 20 years as their family grows, their wealth amasses, and their life together is almost shattered.

“I feel and believe that you do love me, Arvay, but I don’t want that stand-still, hap-hazard kind of love. I’m just a hungry dog for a knowing and a doing love. You love like a coward. Don’t take no steps at all. Just stand around and hope for things to happen out right…I’m tired of excusing you because you don’t understand. I’m tired of waiting for you to meet me on some high place…Two people ain’t never married until they come to the same point of view…”

 Hurston accomplished her goal and transcended race to simply write a beautiful love story.