Liliane - by Ntozake Shange (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the award-winning author of the choreopoem For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf comes Ntozake Shange's extraordinary novel Liliane, about a woman learning to be who she really is.

"A daring portrait of a black woman artist re-creating herself out of social and psychological chaos, the fragmentation that haunts our time, our nation. Ourselves."-Los Angeles Times

Through the polyphonic voices of Liliane Lincoln's childhood friends, lovers, and conversations with her psychoanalyst, Ntozake Shange weaves the life of a remarkable young woman. Liliane Lincoln is an artist who exposes what she knows of herself to the world through her bold and colorful artwork. Gradually, however, Liliane realizes that in order to survive, she must come to terms with what she has kept hidden even from herself.

Review Quotes

"A standing ovation for Ntozake Shange. This is her finest work of fiction so far." --Clarence Major, Washington Post Book World

"What a pleasure it is to hear Ntozake Shange singing in so many different keys, so many different tempos. Her Liliane is a dense, ambitious, worthy song." --Valerie Sayers, The New York Times Book Review

"Beautifully written and deftly crafted . . . a novel that is as sensual as it is sexy, that serves up as much lyricism as it does laughter." --Valerie Boyd, Atlanta Journal

"A powerful vision and perfect ear . . . Shange brilliantly captures . . . disparate places and times." --Samuel Shem, Boston Globe

"A daring portrait of a black woman artist recreating herself out of social and psychological chaos, the fragmentation that haunts our time, our nation. Ourselves." --Kelly Cherry, The Los Angeles Times Book Review

About the Author

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

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.