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The Fire Next Time: WITH My Dungeon Shook: My Dungeon Shook; Down at the Cross (Twentieth Century Classics)
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| List Price: | £9.99 |
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Product Description
Since it was first published, this famous study of the Black Problem in America has become a classic. Powerful, haunting and prophetic, it sounds a clarion warning to the world.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #75298 in Books
- Published on: 1990-01-25
- Original language: English
- Binding: Paperback
- 96 pages
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Born in Harlem in 1924, Baldwin had an early career as a teenage preacher. He lived in Paris from 1948-1956 and his first novels, the autobiographical GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN and GIOVANNI'S ROOM established him as a promising novelist and anticipated some of the themes of his later works, such as racism and sexuality. He became a prominent spokesperson for racial equality, especially during the civil rights movement. He lived in France during his last years. Baldwin died in 1987.
Customer Reviews
Baldwin's finest work
This essay collection is divided into two parts: "My Dungeon Shook" and "Down at the Cross". "Dungeon" is the shorter of the two pieces and is addressed to Baldwin's nephew. Baldwin tells his nephew how to survive living in a racist society (USA of 1960's). The second essay in the collection deals with the Black Islam Movement. Baldwin attacks the ideas of this movement and calls for an end to prejudice. The language, imagery, and ideas Baldwin uses in these two essays is absolutely brilliant. This book receives my highest recommendation.
Baldwin at his most bleak
Having read Giovanni's Room and Go Tell It On The Mountain I was still hungry for more Baldwin. He writes some of the most beautiful prose in the English Language that I have ever read. This book, particularly Down At The Cross, is more of a stream of consciousness expressing his deep sadness and rage at the problems of racial injustice in the US - and worldwide. He gives an insightful description of a meeting with the founder of the Nation of Islam and paints a very bleak picture with personal, political and historical detail. I learned more in this short book about the depth of feeling of black Americans regarding their status in America in the early 'sixties than I have anywhere else. A tough read, made more bearable knowing there is now a black president in the Whitehouse. And thank God...
inspiring, moving
A great book! A great writer!
