The Life of Langston Hughes: Volume II: 1941-1967, I Dream a World

by Arnold Rampersad

February 1, 2002 marks the 100th birthday of Langston Hughes. To commemorate the centennial of his birth, Arnold Rampersad has contributed new Afterwords to both volumes of his highly-praised biography of this most extraordinary and prolific American writer.
The second volume in this masterful biography finds Hughes rooting himself in Harlem, receiving stimulation from his rich cultural surroundings. Here he rethought his view of art and radicalism, and cultivated relationships with younger, more militant writers such as Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, and Amiri Bakara. Rampersad's Afterword to volume two looks further into his influence and how it expanded beyond the literary as a result of his love of jazz and blues, his opera and musical theater collaborations, and his participation in radio and television. In addition, Rempersad explores the controversial matter of Hughes's sexuality and the possibility that, despite a lack of clear evidence, Hughes was homosexual.
Exhaustively researched in archival collections throughout the country, especially in the Langston Hughes papers at Yale University's Beinecke Library, and featuring fifty illustrations per volume, this anniversary edition will offer a new generation of readers entrance to the life and mind of one of the twentieth century's greatest artists.

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Poetry, American History, African American, Race

576 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Arnold Rampersad is a biographer, literary critic, and academic, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago and moved to the US in 1965. The first volume (1986) of his Life of Langston Hughes was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and his Ralph Ellison: A Biography was a finalist for the 2007 National Book Award.

Rampersad is currently Professor of English and the Sara Hart Kimball Professor in the Humanities at Stanford University. He was Senior Associate Dean for the Humanities from January 2004 to August 2006.

Reviews

[Elaine]

Langston Hughes was such a prolific writer of poetry, short stories, plays, children's books -- he even wrote a two-volume autobiography. So one might wonder what new could be added by an outside biographer. Well, the brilliant scholar Arnold Rampersad found lots to tell -- and tells it well. Though he didn't flinch from baring Hughes' flaws and foibles, the reader gains a deeper understanding of just how courageous and innovative "America's original jazz poet" really was.

[Tony Britt]

I'm not into poetry; I could never through Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. I wanted to know more about this great American poet, Langston Hughes, so I read Volume I first. Two volumes of 400+ pages is more biography on one person than I ever read, but it turned out easy to do. It's hard to imagine the author saying anytime more, he goes through so much detail. Such density would be an obstacle for most, but it was most enjoyable all the way through two volumes. While Volume I may have had more excitement w/ Hughes' travels, I was just as intrigued w/ Volume Il. I now have two new American heroes, Hughes & Rampersad.

[George]

Like the first volume, this is a beautifully researched work. The definite study of Hughes' life. Lots of detail, but frequent pauses to step back and reflect. By the end, you almost feel you knew Langston Hughes personally!

[Rafael Suleiman]

A very comprehensive biography of Langston Hughes.

[Kat]

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...#

[James]

The challenge of biographies is making sure that you don't lose sight of the forest for the trees. Sometimes Rampersad does that as the biography gets caught up in the minutiae of recounting the daily and yearly events of Hughes' life. It can be hard to work through a biography and see its big themes and ideas as you get tangled up in seems to be a glorified long form C.V and a daily diary of events. Still, this was a fitting tribute to the life of a great author.

[Victoria]

This, and the first volume, are a fabulous, insightful guided journey through the life and art of Langston Hughes, and the worlds of his age. Critical, understanding and respectful, but unflinching. It is both an American, and a world history book, based on exhaustive research, that no American should ever fail to read.

[Elizabeth]

The Life of Langston Hughes: Volume II: 1941-1967: I Dream a World (Hardcover)
by Arnold Rampersad