Not Without Laughter

Not Without Laughter
Author(s)	Langston Hughes
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	Random House
Publication date	1930
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-394-43873-6 (hardback edition)

Not Without Laughter is a novel written by Langston Hughes and published in 1930. It is Hughes' first novel, and first major work of prose.

Plot introduction

Not Without Laughter portrays African American life in the 1910s, focusing on character development rather than plot. However, The main storyline focuses on Sandy's "awakening to the sad and the beautiful realities of black life in a small Kansas town." The major intent of the novel is to portray Sandy's life as he tries to be the best he can be, aspiring to folks like W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington.

Characters in Not Without Laughter

• Sandy Rogers – the main character in the novel, and protagonist
• Jimboy – Sandy's father, generally portrayed as irresponsible
• Annjee Williams – Sandy's mother
• Aunt Hager Williams – Annjee's mother and Sandy's grandmother, a conservative Baptist
• Tempy Siles/Williams – Annjee's rich sister
• Mr. Siles – a rich man who marries Tempy
• Harriett Williams – sister of Annjee; blues singer
• Willie-Mae – friend of Sandy

Background

Hughes has said that the novel is semi-autobiographical, and that a good portion of the characters and setting included in the book are based on his memories of growing up in Lawrence, Kansas. Hughes has said about Not Without Laugher: I wanted to write about a typical Negro family in the Middle West, about people like those I had known in Kansas. But mine was not a typical Negro family.

References

• The New York Times. 3 August 1930. http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/22/specials/hughes-notwithout.html/. 
• "Not Without Laughter". 9 August 2011. http://www.continuinged.ku.edu/hughes/files_city/laughter.html.