Alice Walker's The Color Purple was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and is considered one of the most influential works of modern African American fiction. Readers discover the lasting impact of this novel and Walker's other works as they explore this captivating guide to the life of a literary giant. Historical and biographical context is presented through informative main text, engaging sidebars, and design elements that include timelines and primary source images. Readers are then able to use this context to analyze Walker's work, which is introduced to them in an accessible way that strengthens essential language arts skills.