Part of the Norton Library series

The Norton Library edition of The Marrow of Tradition features the original 1901 text of the work. A sweeping introduction by Autumn Womack highlights the work’s historical contexts, literary achievements, and groundbreaking critique of white supremacy.

The Norton Library is a growing collection of high-quality texts and translations—influential works of literature and philosophy—introduced and edited by leading scholars. Norton Library editions prepare readers for their first encounter with the works that they’ll re-read over a lifetime.



Inviting introductions highlight the work’s significance and influence, providing the historical and literary context students need to dive in with confidence.
Endnotes and an easy-to-read design deliver an uninterrupted reading experience, encouraging students to read the text first and refer to endnotes for more information as needed.
An affordable price (most $10 or less) encourages students to buy the book and to come to class with the assigned edition.

About the Editor: Autumn Womack is Assistant Professor in the departments of African American Studies and English at Princeton University, where she specializes in late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century African American literary culture. She is the author of The Matter of Black Living: The Aesthetic Experiment of Racial Data, 1880–1930 (2022).