Ishmael Reed

Author profile

born

February 22, 1938 in Chattanooga, Tennessee

gender

male

About this author

Ishmael Scott Reed is an American poet, essayist, and novelist. A prominent African-American literary figure, Reed is known for his satirical works challenging American political culture, and highlighting political and cultural oppression.

Reed has been described as one of the most controversial writers. While his work has often sought to represent neglected African and African-American perspectives, his energy and advocacy have centered more broadly on neglected peoples and perspectives irrespective of their cultural origins.

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Books by Ishmael Reed

Average rating: 3.84 · 4,489 ratings · 381 reviews · 53 distinct works

	Mumbo Jumbo 3.76 avg rating — 816 ratings — published 1971 — 9 editions	My rating:
	Flight to Canada 3.61 avg rating — 274 ratings — published 1976 — 4 editions	My rating:
	Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down 3.84 avg rating — 176 ratings — published 1971 — 8 editions	My rating:
	The Free-Lance Pallbearers 3.67 avg rating — 103 ratings — published 1967 — 8 editions	My rating:
	Japanese by Spring 3.33 avg rating — 96 ratings — published 1993 — 2 editions	My rating:
	The Last Days of Louisiana Red 3.60 avg rating — 70 ratings — published 1974 — 4 editions	My rating:
	From Totems to Hip-Hop: A Multicultural Anthology of Poetry Across America 4.03 avg rating — 89 ratings — published 2002 — 2 editions	My rating:
	The Terrible Twos 3.59 avg rating — 70 ratings — published 1990 — 7 editions	My rating:
	Reckless Eyeballing 3.63 avg rating — 49 ratings — published 1986 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Blues City: A Walk in Oakland 3.35 avg rating — 52 ratings — published 2003 — 6 editions	My rating:

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Quotes by Ishmael Reed

“No one says a novel has to be one thing. It can be anything it wants to be, a vaudeville show, the six o’clock news, the mumblings of wild men saddled by demons.”
― Ishmael Reed, Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down

tags: literature , novels , writers , writing

742 people liked it

“Dualism::In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man
I am outside of history. i wish i had some peanuts, it looks hungry there in the cage.
i am outside of history. its hungrier than i thot.”
― Ishmael Reed, New and Collected Poems, 1964-2006

tags: philosophical

3 people liked it

“Tea Party members go to meetings on Medicare scooters.”
― Ishmael Reed

2 people liked it

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Challenge: 50 Books: Shibbie's 2010	37	134	Dec 12, 2010 08:39pm
The Seasonal Read...: Spring Challenge 2011 Completed Tasks (DO NOT DELETE ANY POSTS)	2898	730	May 31, 2011 09:01pm
Reading with Style: Reading w/Style Completed Tasks - Spring 2011	931	162	May 31, 2011 09:15pm
Literary Fiction ...: Coming Attractions - 2011	55	105	Dec 27, 2011 10:34pm
College Students! : Fall/Winter 2011-2012: Task List (AND RULES)	33	153	Jan 09, 2012 01:39pm
College Students! : * Spring/Summer 2012: Task List (AND RULES):	38	118	17 hours, 47 min ago

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