<P> Their Eyes Were Watching God is a 1937 novel and the best known work by African - American writer Zora Neale Hurston . The novel narrates main character Janie Crawford 's `` ripening from a vibrant , but voiceless , teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny . '' As a young woman , who is fair - skinned with long hair , she expects more out of life , but comes to realize she has to find out about life ' fuh theyselves ' ( for herself ) , just as people can only go - to - God for themselves . Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century , the novel was initially poorly received for its rejection of racial uplift literary prescriptions . Today , it has come to be regarded as a seminal work in both African - American literature and women 's literature . TIME included the novel in its 2005 list of the 100 best English - language novels published since 1923 . </P>
<P> Their Eyes Were Watching God is a 1937 novel and the best known work by African - American writer Zora Neale Hurston . The novel narrates main character Janie Crawford 's `` ripening from a vibrant , but voiceless , teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny . '' As a young woman , who is fair - skinned with long hair , she expects more out of life , but comes to realize she has to find out about life ' fuh theyselves ' ( for herself ) , just as people can only go - to - God for themselves . Set in central and southern Florida in the early 20th century , the novel was initially poorly received for its rejection of racial uplift literary prescriptions . Today , it has come to be regarded as a seminal work in both African - American literature and women 's literature . TIME included the novel in its 2005 list of the 100 best English - language novels published since 1923 . </P>
when was their eyes are watching god set
when was their eyes are watching god set
the early 20th century
the early 20th century