Teh Color Purple is a classic. With over a million copies sold in the UK alone, it is hailed as one the all-time "greats" of literature, inspiring generations of readers. Set in the deep American South between the wars, it 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 from her beloved sister Nettie, and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker -- a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing herself from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.

Celie is a poor black woman whose letters tell the story of 20 years of her life, beginning at age 14 when she is being abused and raped by her father and attempting to protect her sister from the same fate, and continuing over the course of her marriage to "Mister," a brutal man who terrorizes her. Celie eventually learns that her abusive husband has been keeping her sister's letters from her and the rage she feels, combined with an example of love and independence provided by her close friend Shug, pushes her finally toward an awakening of her creative and loving self.