The Walls of Jericho

The Walls of Jericho is the first novel written by Rudolph Fisher and it was a standout work when it was published in 1928. Black lawyer Fred Merrit buys a house in the white neighborhood near Harlem and must contend with the racism of his new neighbors, which is highlighted when he hires movers Jinx Jenkins and Bubber Brown to help him get into his new place. What ensues is a satire of jazz-age Harlem, exploring concepts of race and class that are still relevant today. Our edition includes four short stories originally published in The Atlantic: City of Refuge, The Promised Land, Ringtail, and Blades of Steel.