The Color Purple

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, this novel follows Celie, a woman who grows up poor in rural Georgia, facing abuse from her family and society. When her sister Nettie escapes to become a missionary in Africa, Celie is married off to a harsh and brutal older man, left without her closest confidante. Celie begins writing letters to God as a way to endure her difficult life. Over twenty years, these letters document her journey toward self-discovery and empowerment. She forms meaningful connections with Shug Avery, her husband's mistress and a jazz singer, and Sophia, her stepson's wife, both of whom encourage her independence. Though her husband hides Nettie's letters, her sister's unwavering support becomes profoundly important to her. The novel has sold more than five million copies and inspired an Academy Award-nominated film and a Tony-nominated Broadway musical. This ebook includes a new introduction by Alice Walker written on the twenty-fifth anniversary of publication, along with an illustrated biography featuring rare photographs from the author's personal collection.