Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165265 in Books
• Published on: 1995-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 736 pages

Synopsis
Arranged chronologically, a comprehensive collection of the verse of Langston Hughes contains 860 poems, including three hundred that have never appeared in book form and commentary by Hughes's biographer.

Customer Reviews

A Towering Genius for All Seasons
Langston Hughes has often been described as "The Negro Poet Laureate" and whilst this is more than justified, there is much more to his work than that even title implies. His language is direct and straight-forward without ever being over-simple, romantic but not sentimental. He rarely wastes words, poems such as Poem(2) "I Loved My Friend", "No Regrets" and "Suicide's Note" speaking beautifully, movingly and eloquently to all despite their brevity. The rhythms that run through his work are varied and affecting, always finely judged and moulded to the work, rather than the other way round. One facet that is easy to overlook is the sensuality that suffuses the poetry, from the "Make a song like that / with your lips" couplet in "Hurt" to the subtle warmth that caresses even poems such as "Dear Lovely Death". As a gifted and powerfully intelligent black man living in America, he could not help but be aware of prejudice and inequality, but he avoids simple finger-wagging in favour of more substantial representations. This beautiful edition (now also available in paperback) packs in all 860 poems published during his lifetime along with an excellent introduction, detailed chronology and genuinely useful notes. It is a pity there is not a proper contents list at the front, but other than that the edition is beautifully presented, making up for Serpent's Tails' shoddy printing of "Selected Poems" (which I bought this to replace). The portrait on the front is gorgeous. If you love poetry - then buy this book. If you love beautiful language - buy this. If you love people - buy this. It really is that good. And that important.

Two really great poems in this collection.
Langston Hughes is one of the most amazing poets of the 20th century. He is called the "Poet Laurete of the Negro Race." You can see his passion for writing through the beautiful poems included in this collection. "The Negro Speaks Rivers" is one of my favorite poems. Written in 1919 on the train to Mexico, it was the first poem that Hughes ever wrote. It is now a landmark in African American Literature as it marks the beginning of the Harlem Renassiance. Hughes poem "Harlem" touches me deeply. The opening line grabs the reader: "What happens to a dream defered?" Hughes knows his passion and used it to snag the reader, taking them to a world of rich culture and beautiful ideals.