A Historical Guide to James Baldwin

by Douglas Field

With contributions from major scholars of African American literature, history, and cultural studies, A Historical Guide to James Baldwin focuses on the four tumultous decades that defined the great author's life and art. Providing a comprehensive examination of Baldwin's varied body of work that includes short stories, novels, and polemical essays, this collection reflects the major events that left an indelible imprint on the iconic civil rights, black nationalism and the struggle for gay rights in the pre- and post-Stonewall eras. The essays also highlight Baldwin's under-studied role as a trans-Atlantic writer, his lifelong struggle with faith, and his use of music, especially the blues, as a key to unlock the mysteries of his identity as an exile, an artist, and a black American in a racially hostile era.

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 24, 2009

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview and detail about Baldwin. In particular, the essay about music is worth reading. Liked the timelines.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're an admirer of Baldwin, not a great deal here is new, but it's worth a quick read.