Books with author J. Baldwin

'Go back to where you started, or as far back as you can, examine all of it, travel your road again and tell the truth about it. Sing or shout or testify or keep it to yourself: but know whence you came.' Originally published in 1953, Go Tell it on the Mountain was James Baldwin's first major work, based in part on his own childhood in Harlem. With lyrical precision, psychological directness, resonating symbolic power and a rage that is at once unrelenting and compassionate, Baldwin chronicles a fourteen-year-old boy's discovery of the terms of his identity as the stepson of the minister of a Pentecostal storefront church in Harlem. Baldwin's rendering of his protagonist's spiritual, sexual and moral struggle towards self-invention opened new possibilities in the American language and in the way Americans understood themselves.

Roland, the nephew of the Charlemagne of romance, and his companion in all great enterprises, is unknown to history. Yet he is the typical knight, the greatest hero of the middle ages. His story, as I shall tell it you, is not a mere transcript of the old romances. The main incidents have been derived from a great variety of sources, while the arrangement and the connecting parts are of my own invention. I have culled the story from the song-writers and poets of five centuries and of as many languages. Sometimes I have adhered closely to the matter and spirit, and even the words, of the originals; sometimes I have given free rein to my own imagination; and throughout I have endeavored so to arrange and retouch the individual parts of the story as lend interest to its recital, and adapt it to our own ways of thinking, and our modern notions of propriety. The oldest story of Roland was doubtless that which was sung by the minstrel of William the Conqueror, in 1066. Wace, in his account of the battle of Hastings, says, "Taillefer, who sang very well, rode before the duke, singing of Charlemagne and of Roland and Oliver, and of the vassals who died at Roncevaux." The song which Taillefer sang must have been the "Chanson de Roland," written by one Turold, perhaps as early as the tenth century. It is by far the finest of all the "tales of France." More than twenty years after the battle of Hastings, there appeared a Latin work, entitled, "The Life of Charles the Great and of Roland," which, it was claimed, had been written by Archbishop Turpin, the father-confessor of Charlemagne. The falsity of this claim is too apparent to need any proof; and yet the work, having been sanctioned by Pope Calixtus, and placed by him upon the roll of canonical books, exerted no small influence over the poetical literature which followed it, and supplied materials and suggestions to many later romancists. In England, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, there appeared several rhyming romances relating to our hero. Among these were "Sir Ferumbras," an adaptation of a French poem, entitled "Fierabras," "Otuel," and "Roland and Ferragus." One of the first books printed in our language was a legendary history of Charlemagne, entitled "The Lyf of Charles the Great, fynysshed in the reducing of it into Englysshe in the xvii day of Juin MCCCCLXXXV. Explicit per William Caxton." In our own time, Mr. John Malcolm Ludlow, in his "Popular Epics of the Middle Ages," has given us a valuable critical analysis of some of the most noticeable legends of Roland and Charlemagne. In Germany, we find an adaptation of the "Chanson de Roland" in an old poem, entitled, "Ruolandes Liet," which appeared, probably, as early as 1177, and has recently been edited by William Grimm. Karl Simrock's "Kerlingisches Heldenbuch" contains some of the most delightful traditions of Roland and Charlemagne; and the "Kaiserchronik," published in 1849, gives a complete legendary history of Charlemagne and his peers from a German point of view. In Italy the story of Roland was long a most fertile and attractive theme, and gave rise to more than one great poem. The legends relating to his parentage and boyhood are contained in the "Innamoramento di Milone d'Anglante," printed in the sixteenth century, and in several other poems much older; the "Orlando Innamorato" of Boiardo tells us of the marvellous adventures of our hero in Fairyland and in the Far East; the "Orlando Furioso" of Ariosto tells of his prowess as a knight, his disappointment in love, his madness and ultimate recovery; the "Morgante Maggiore" of Pulci relates the story of his later adventures and his death. In the mediæval romances of Spain the name of Roland is of frequent occurrence; and the story, modified to suit the prejudices of Spanish readers, is found in numerous old songs and poems, some of them as early as the twelfth century.

Inspired by the true story of a beloved teacher killed by a drunk driver during Red Ribbon Week, One Small Ripple chronicles the journey back to health of a pretty high school student after a devastating car accident.Angie Gianelli awakens in the hospital faced with many obstacles, not the least of which is the news that her best friend, also in the accident, has perished. In the months that follow, she struggles to heal, both physically and emotionally.One Small Ripple is a story about love, loss, and how a person's life affects those around them, for better or worse......but mostly for the better.

Published in 1962, this is an emotionally intense novel of love, hatred, race and liberal America in the 1960s. Set in Greenwhich Village, Harlem and France, ANOTHER COUNTRY tells the story of the suicide of jazz-musician Rufus Scott and the friends who search for an understanding of his life and death, discovering uncomfortable truths about themselves along the way.

NOTE TO THE READERThe eighteen stories in this volume have been chosen with a thought to their educative value as well as for the intrinsic charm of the original narratives, which in various forms have delighted many generations of readers. All have a literary interest connecting them with subjects with which every educated person is supposed to be familiar. In the first four, you will be introduced to the sun myths and season myths of the Greeks and of our Norse ancestors. Following these, the tale of song-inspiring Pegasus is presented in contrast with that of Griffen, the base imitation invented by the romancing poets of the Middle Ages. Then in "The Ship of the Plains," you may read of the mythical founding of Athens; and in the sketch that follows, you may enjoy a brief glimpse of Arabic imagery in the story of one of the most interesting episodes in the life of the prophet Mohammed. The story of the twin brethren will acquaint you with the thought of some of the old Latin writers, while the tale of Rakush will give you a taste of Persian literature as it is found in the great epic written by Firdusi. The romances of Charlemagne and his peers are represented by the story of Broiefort and his indomitable master; and the world-famous Don Quixote is introduced by his sorry but scarcely less famous steed, Rozinante. The epic of the Iliad is briefly condensed in the biography of Swift and Old-Gold; and the tragic fall of Troy is narrated in the story of the Great Wooden Horse. Then with the Horse of Brass you mayCall up him that left half toldThe story of Cambuscan bold;and finally with Firouz Schah you may take a bold flight into the enchanting regions of romance depicted in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainment."And so, while you are reading this WONDER-BOOK OF HORSES and finding entertainment in the biographies of winged steeds and war horses, of knights-errant and god-like heroes, you are really doing something more—you are making acquaintance with some of those wonderful and beautiful conceptions which in the form of classic literature have come down to us through the ages.JAMES BALDWIN

This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare s finesse to Oscar Wilde s wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim s Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library.

Like the blues -- sweet, sad and full of truth -- this masterly work of fiction rocks us with powerful emotions. In it are anger and pain, but above all, love -- affirmative love of a woman for her man, the sustaining love of a black family. Fonny, a talented young artist, finds himself unjustly arrested and locked in New York's infamous tombs. But his girlfriend, Tish, is determined to free him, and to have his baby, in this starkly realisitic tale... a powerful endictment of American concepts of justice and punishment in our time.

Stories in the Book:THE GARDEN OF DELIGHT.THE TWO BROTHERS.THE FLOOD OF WATERS.THE GREAT CHIEF. I. THE PROMISE. II. THE NEW NAME. III. THE STRANGERS. IV. THE BURNT OFFERING. V. THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. VI. BEAUTY AND LAUGHTER.THE MASTER OF THE LAND OF THE NILE. I. THE DREAMER. II. THE JOURNEY. III. THE DRY WELL. IV. THE CARAVAN. V. THE PRISON. VI. THE DREAMS. VII. THE TEN STRANGERS. VIII. THE LITTLE BROTHER. IX. THE DISCOVERY.THE GREAT LAWGIVER. I. THE KING'S DAUGHTER. II. THE SHEPHERD. III. THE BURNING BUSH. IV. THE TEN PLAGUES. V. THE LONG JOURNEY.“THE MAN WHOSE EYES WERE OPEN.” I. THE SOOTHSAYER. II. THE VISION. III. THE FIRST MOUNTAIN. IV. THE SECOND MOUNTAIN. V. THE THIRD MOUNTAIN.THE BEE AND THE GAZELLE I. THE BEE. II. THE GAZELLE. III. THE SONG.IDOL BREAKER. I. THE IDOL. II. THE ANGEL. III. THE CAMP. IV. THE FLIGHT.THE STORY OF SPLENDID SUN. I. THE WANDERERS. II. THE STRANGER. III. THE RIDDLE. IV. THE FOXES. V. THE SECRET. VI. THE TEMPLE.A STORY OF HARVEST TIME. I. THE GLEANER. II. THE HARVEST FEAST. III. THE WEDDING.THE SHEPHERD BOY WHO BECAME KING. I. THE SEER. II. THE KING. III. THE GIANT. IV. THE CAMP. V. THE SLING.THERE are few stories which in themselves are more intensely interesting than those that have come down to us from antiquity through the medium of the Hebrew Scriptures. Yet they have been so generally and so exclusively employed for the purpose of imparting religious instruction, that their purely literary qualities have not always received the attention which they merit. By very many persons, grown-up people as well as children, they are regarded as being inseparably connected with the services of the Sunday school and the Church, and hence scarcely to be thought of during the secular days of the week. There is really no good reason why this should be so. Indeed, there is no good reason why children in the day schools should not read these old stories of the East with as much freedom and with as eager zest as they peruse the classic myths of Greece or the ever-charming tales with which the world of modern fiction abounds. In the present volume it has been the aim of the author to retell these stories from a literary standpoint, and in exactly the same manner as he would retell other stories pertaining to the infancy of the human race. He has endeavored to represent the actors in them as real men and women inhabiting the same world as ourselves ; and, while it has been neither possible nor desirable to omit frequent allusions to- the,"' supernatural, care has been taken not to trespass "on the domain of the religious teacher. In order the better to carry out this plat, the Hebrew names are used sparingly, and are often, omitted in favor of their English equivalents. It is believed that this device will not only give to some of the stories a flavor of newness, but that it will in many instances help the young reader to a readier appreciation of their beauty. While each of the twelve stories in this volume is wholly independent of the others, and may be read without any knowledge of those which precede it, there is nevertheless a continuity from the first to the last, giving to the collection the completeness of a single narrative. It comprises, in short, the history of the origin of the Hebrew race, and of the chief events connected with the life of that people down to the period of their greatest prosperity.

Nineteen-year-old girl Tish and young sculptor Fonny have pledged to get married, but Fonny is falsely accused of a terrible crime and is imprisoned. Their families set out to clear his name, and as they face an uncertain future, the young lovers experience a kaleidoscope of emotions-- affection, despair, and hope. In a love story that evokes the blues, where passion and sadness are inevitably intertwined, Baldwin has created two characters so alive and profoundly realized that they are unforgettably ingrained in the American psyche.

Inspired by the true story of a beloved teacher killed by a drunk driver during Red Ribbon Week, One Small Ripple chronicles the journey back to health of a pretty high school student after a devastating car accident.Angie Gianelli awakens in the hospital faced with many obstacles, not the least of which is the news that her best friend, also in the accident, has perished. In the months that follow, she struggles to heal, both physically and emotionally.One Small Ripple is a story about love, loss, and how a person's life affects those around them, for better or worse......but mostly for the better.