James Baldwin
James Baldwin (1924–1987) was born in Harlem, New York, the eldest of nine children. His stepfather was a storefront preacher, and Baldwin himself became a teenage minister before losing his faith and turning to literature. He fled America for Paris in 1948, seeking escape from the racism and homophobia that threatened to destroy him. His first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, and his essay collection Notes of a Native Son established him as one of the most important American writers of his generation. This author hub collects 2 works in the Canon Compass ranking, led by Giovanni's Room.
Start with Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin, ranked #184 in the Canon Compass list.
Featured Books
James Baldwin's Giovanni's Room: an American in Paris, a doomed love affair, and the prison of shame. Identity, desire, and denial.
James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain is a powerful novel of faith, family, and identity in 1930s Harlem.