The Color Purple is an influential cultural icon in modern American literature. The book describes the lives of African-American women in rural Georgia at the turn of the twentieth century. The story centers on sisters Celie and Nettie, who together experience the pain and struggles of growing up as African-American women during this period. After Celie is forced into an abusive marriage, she can at least offer Nettie safety in her new home. However, this changes when Nettie attracts the attention of Celie's husband, forcing her to forge her own path.
Through a series of letters spanning twenty years—first written by Celie to God, and later between the sisters themselves—they manage to keep their hope in each other alive, despite time, distance, and silence. Their story is a triumph of resilience, courage, and ultimately, love. The book has won over generations of readers and broken the silence surrounding domestic violence and sexual abuse by sharing the lives of women through their pain, struggles, friendship, and growth.