Fannie Hurst was an American novelist known for engaging stories about social issues. Her popular books include Imitation of Life and Back Street, both highlighting challenges faced by women and exploring racial and class tensions.
If you enjoy reading books by Fannie Hurst then you might also like the following authors:
Edna Ferber wrote vivid, realistic stories about American life and ordinary people. She wrote about families facing challenges, personal struggles, and social issues, much like Fannie Hurst did. If you enjoyed Hurst's heartfelt novels, you might appreciate Ferber's So Big.
It's the moving story of Selina, a strong-willed woman who overcomes hardship to build a better life for her son, exploring themes of resilience, ambition, and parenting along the way.
Anzia Yezierska wrote honest, emotional stories about immigrant life, particularly about Jewish women adjusting to life in America. She shares similarities with Fannie Hurst in her exploration of female identity, family dynamics, and the struggle to find belonging.
Yezierska's book Bread Givers follows young Sara Smolinsky as she seeks independence and her own identity amid the pressures of family tradition and poverty in New York's Lower East Side.
Viña Delmar captured the realities of modern urban life, marriage, and social expectations in her writing. With direct and engaging stories, she explored relationships, aspirations, and personal dilemmas in a straightforward and relatable way.
Like Hurst, Delmar focused on everyday characters and emotional issues. You might enjoy her novel Bad Girl, which portrays the struggles of a young couple navigating married life, finances, and societal pressures in 1920s New York.
Thyra Samter Winslow wrote short, sharp-witted stories about women's experiences, personal relationships, and family tensions. If Hurst's candid style appealed to you, Winslow offers a similar perspective on life's complications through clear, often humorous portraits.
Her collection Picture Frames contains insightful short stories highlighting women's efforts to assert identity and independence in complex social and family situations.
Ellen Glasgow wrote thoughtful novels exploring the American South, social change, and women's inner lives. Her clear storytelling captures characters navigating family expectations, shifting traditions, and personal fulfillment.
Glasgow and Hurst share a focus on women's emotions and inner conflicts. Her novel Barren Ground follows Dorinda Oakley, a resilient woman determined to overcome setbacks and build a life of dignity and independence despite family obligations and restrictive social norms.
Dorothy Canfield Fisher writes novels and stories full of warmth and insight into daily American life. In her best-known novel, The Home-Maker, she explores the roles of men and women in family and society with sensitivity and depth.
Like Fannie Hurst, Fisher portrays everyday lives and personal struggles in relatable, heartfelt ways.
Susan Glaspell is known for thoughtful storytelling, often weaving subtle social commentary into her narratives. Her novel Fidelity examines the complexities of love, marriage, and women's independence during challenging times.
Readers who appreciate Fannie Hurst’s realistic approach to emotional relationships will find Glaspell similarly engaging.
Zona Gale paints well-observed portraits of small-town life, complete with its joys, sorrows, and human connections. Her novel, Miss Lulu Bett, thoughtfully illuminates women's limitations and quiet rebellions in society.
Like Hurst, Gale brings a sensitive clarity to ordinary characters facing life's hurdles.
Kathleen Norris is skilled at crafting romantic and domestic tales featuring believable characters and their relationships. In Mother, Norris dives into family dynamics, responsibilities, and the sacrifices women make, all narrated with honesty and warmth.
Her engaging storytelling will appeal to readers who enjoy Hurst’s emotional depth and relatable conflicts.
Ursula Parrott explores modern relationships, independence, and societal expectations in her progressive novels. Her book Ex-Wife openly addresses divorce, sexuality and single life for women in ways bold for its time.
Fans of Fannie Hurst’s exploration of women’s experiences and roles will find Parrott similarly thought-provoking and refreshingly candid.
Pearl S. Buck explored family struggles, culture clashes, and personal resilience with sincere storytelling. Her famous novel, The Good Earth, follows the life of a Chinese family as they navigate hardships, fortune, and complex family relationships.
Buck writes with empathy and insight about ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges, themes that readers of Fannie Hurst might deeply appreciate.
Dorothy Parker brought wit, sharp observation, and humor to her stories and poems. She had a knack for capturing human flaws and complicated relationships with both poignancy and clever sarcasm.
In her short story collection Laments for the Living, Parker takes an unflinching look at women's lives, personal disappointments, and social expectations.
Those who enjoy Fannie Hurst's strong characters and social observations may relate to Parker’s sharp yet emotional portrayal of humanity.
Taylor Caldwell crafted engrossing novels full of social commentary and passionate characters facing life's toughest challenges.
In novels such as Captains and the Kings, Caldwell addresses themes of ambition, power, family loyalty, and personal sacrifice, with characters who feel vivid and relatable.
Fans of Fannie Hurst may appreciate Caldwell's skill at weaving drama and emotion into historical settings.
Rosamond Lehmann wrote tender, introspective stories that explored love, identity, and the emotional lives of women. Her novel Invitation to the Waltz vividly portrays the anxieties and excitement of growing up and venturing into adulthood.
Lehmann's sensitive exploration of inner life and personal change will resonate with readers who admire the emotional depth seen in Fannie Hurst's stories.
Mary Roberts Rinehart is best known for suspenseful writing and compelling mysteries that dig into hidden motives and simmering tensions beneath everyday life.
Her popular novel The Circular Staircase combines intriguing mystery with relatable characters in an accessible, engaging style.
Fans of Fannie Hurst who enjoy the drama and emotional depth of human relationships might also find Rinehart’s storytelling satisfying, blending mystery plots with psychological insight.