Laughing Boy

Winner of the 1930 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, Laughing Boy is a tender, evocative novel set in the American Southwest in the early 20th century, offering a nuanced portrayal of Navajo life during a time of cultural upheaval. The story follows Laughing Boy, a proud and skilled young silversmith deeply rooted in Navajo traditions, who falls in love with Slim Girl—a mysterious, Western-educated woman who has returned to the reservation after being raised in a government school.

Their romance blossoms with passion and hope, yet it is shadowed by the tension between ancient ways and modern influences, between tribal identity and the forces of assimilation. As Laughing Boy and Slim Girl try to forge a life together, their love becomes a poignant symbol of resilience and cultural conflict.

With lyrical prose and deep respect for Navajo customs and landscapes, Oliver La Farge crafts a moving exploration of identity, belonging, and the costs of change. Laughing Boy remains a significant and sensitive literary achievement in the canon of Native American fiction.