This meticulously annotated edition of Nella Larsen's novel Passing contextualizes the novel's many historical and cultural references and introduces readers to a central theme: crossing the color line in the hopes of living a more privileged life. * Clarifies historical and cultural references in Nella Larsen's Passing * Includes annotations for material on nearly every page of Passing * Thoroughly analyzes the context of the early 20th century United States * Discusses shifts in American definitions of race over the last hundred years