In Zora Neale Hurston's 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, main character Janie Crawford recounts her story. In a series of flashbacks, Janie describes her relationship with three different men over the course of her life, from adolescence to late adulthood. During each relationship, Janie discovers something new about herself and goes through life experiences that permanently shape her perspective and personality.
Set in early 20th-century Florida, the novel was originally rejected for its strong black, female protagonist. Now considered to be an essential piece of women's literature, as well as African-American literature, the book's themes of liberated women, race, and gender roles are praised.
