Infants of The Spring

Wallace Thurman

Infants of the Spring by Wallace Thurman is a satirical novel set during the Harlem Renaissance, providing a sharp critique of the period’s intellectual and artistic movements. The story centers on Raymond Taylor, a young, Black writer navigating the complexities of New York’s literary scene. He lives in a boarding house for artists, where he interacts with a variety of eccentric characters, each representing different aspects of the Black intellectual elite. Through Raymond’s experiences and conversations, Thurman explores the conflicts between the desire for artistic expression and the commercial pressures faced by Black artists during the Harlem Renaissance.

The novel delves into themes of identity, exploitation, and the struggle for authentic self-expression within a community that is both celebrating and commodifying Black art and culture. Infants of the Spring offers a critical look at the often romanticized Harlem Renaissance, exposing the tensions and contradictions that defined the era. Thurman’s portrayal of this vibrant yet fractured world invites readers to reflect on the roles of art, race, and society in shaping creative expression.

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