Romance in Marseille
SKU: 32758862973

Romance in Marseille

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Romance in MarseilleThe pioneering novel of physical disability, transatlantic travel, and black international politics. A vital document of black modernism and one of the earliest overtly queer fictions in the African American tradition. Published for the first time. A Penguin Classic A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Staff Pick Vulture's Ten Best Books of 2020 pick Buried in the archive for almost ninety years, Claude McKay's Romance in Marseille traces the

The pioneering novel of physical disability, transatlantic travel, and black international politics. A vital document of black modernism and one of the earliest overtly queer fictions in the African American tradition. Published for the first time.

A Penguin Classic

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice/Staff Pick
Vulture's Ten Best Books of 2020 pick

Buried in the archive for almost ninety years, Claude McKay's Romance in Marseille traces the adventures of a rowdy troupe of dockworkers, prostitutes, and political organizers--collectively straight and queer, disabled and able-bodied, African, European, Caribbean, and American. Set largely in the culture-blending Vieux Port of Marseille at the height of the Jazz Age, the novel takes flight along with Lafala, an acutely disabled but abruptly wealthy West African sailor. While stowing away on a transatlantic freighter, Lafala is discovered and locked in a frigid closet. Badly frostbitten by the time the boat docks, the once-nimble dancer loses both of his lower legs, emerging from life-saving surgery as what he terms "an amputated man." Thanks to an improbably successful lawsuit against the shipping line, however, Lafala scores big in the litigious United States. Feeling flush after his legal payout, Lafala doubles back to Marseille and resumes his trans-African affair with Aslima, a Moroccan courtesan. With its scenes of black bodies fighting for pleasure and liberty even when stolen, shipped, and sold for parts, McKay's novel explores the heritage of slavery amid an unforgiving modern economy. This first-ever edition of Romance in Marseille includes an introduction by McKay scholars Gary Edward Holcomb and William J. Maxwell that places the novel within both the "stowaway era" of black cultural politics and McKay's challenging career as a star and skeptic of the Harlem Renaissance.
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SKU: 32758862973

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Christopher
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 5
Slip-on ready and great quality
Size: 9, Color: Black
These shoes were stuff for the first half hour but then feel great. Well worth the chance and money. Great quality and slip-on easy
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Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026
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Derek Preston
Chelsea, US
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Size: 11, Color: Tan
Great fit comfortable look good
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Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2026
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mike t.
Bozeman, US
★★★★★ 5
Great shoes
Size: 14 Wide, Color: Black
My shoes look good and feel good and now I’m going to purchase the brown pair I saw
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Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2026
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Nicholas D. Clark
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Don’t buy for restaurant industry
Size: 10.5, Color: Black, Size: 10.5, Color: Black
Good looking shoes, fairly comfortable and good value based on the description shared, so I don’t feel it’s fair to rate them lower than 4 stars. I had high hopes for them based on previous reviews from others saying they wore them in the food and beverage industry that mentioned their quality and durability, however I strongly recommend looking elsewhere if you do. I purchased these to wear working in a full service upscale restaurant and in less than two months have managed to have torn the material on the middle exterior section and the bottoms of the shoes are already completely worn down. Good design, but the durability needs to be improved if they’re to hold up for that industry.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2025
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Damon Richards
Houston, US
★★★★★ 1
DO NOT BUY (lasted less than 7 months)
Size: 11, Color: Black, Size: 11, Color: Black
I bought these for work as a bartender in August of 2025. By December, the tops were scuffed, frayed, and peeling beyond repair, and by February, the soles were coming off. I’ve never had a pair of shoes with such low quality.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2026

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