First published in 1953, this is a reprint of a novel that had largely slipped under the radar but is rightly being given a second chance. Reading it is a bit like flipping through someone's old family photographs where each little scene tells a much bigger story. The narrative is broken down into small chapters, mostly no longer than two or three pages but by the end of the short book you can clearly see her world and understand what she thinks about it. Maud Martha is black (too black she says) and she wonders if she will be too black to find a good husband from all the lighter skinned people of her community. She has her dreams of getting married and moving into a nice little house with pretty children, but she is wise enough to realise that these things have to be worked towards and will not just fall into her lap. When she does find a man to marry her, she is glad that her Paul managed to see past her dark skin and heavy features, but she constantly wo...