The Hachette Essentials series comprises a collection of titles that are regarded as modern classics. A carefully and lovingly curated selection of distinctive, ground-breaking fiction and non-fiction titles published since 1950. Timeless. Relevant. Passionate. Unified as a series - distinctive as books. A good book is great. A great book is essential.

Set in the deep American South between the wars, THE COLOR PURPLE is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls father, she has two children taken away from her, is separated...