Profiles one of the most extraordinary writers of the twentieth century, from his birth in Missouri in 1902, through his journeys around the world to the winter of 1941, providing insights into his political views.

"The extraordinary life of Jackie Robinson is illuminated as never before in this full-scale biography by Arnold Rampersad, who was chosen by Jack's widow, Rachel, to tell her husband's story, and was given unprecedented access to his private papers. We are brought closer than we have ever been to the great ballplayer, a man of courage and quality who became a pivotal figure in the areas of race and civil rights. Born in the rural South, the son of...

Langston Hughes was a master of many literary forms - poetry, plays, essays, novels, and memoirs. But it is as a short-story writer that his talents combined in an especially vibrant way: his gift for humor and irony, his love of the vernacular, his brilliance in depicting character, and his profound perceptions about American life. This new collection of forty-seven stories written between 1919 and 1963 - the most comprehensive available - showcases...

"'The ultimate book for both the dabbler and serious scholar. -- [Hughes] is sumptuous and sharp, playful and sparse, grounded in an earthy music -- This book is a glorious revelation.'--Boston Globe Spanning five decades and comprising 868 poems (nearly 300 of which have never before appeared in book form), this magnificent volume is the definitive sampling of a writer who has been called the poet laureate of African America--and perhaps our greatest...

"Contributors reexamine the continuing relevance of Langston Hughes's work and life to American, African American, and diasporic literatures and cultures. Includes fresh perspectives on the often overlooked "Luani of the Jungles," Black Magic, and works for children, as well as Hughes's more familiar fiction, poetry, essays, dramas, and other writings"--Provided by publisher