Arna Bontemps-Langston Hughes Letters, 1925-1967 [Paperback]

Arna Wendell Bontemps (Author), Charles Harold Nichols (Author), Langston Hughes (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 531 pages
• Publisher: Athena (November 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557783918
• ISBN-13: 978-1557783912
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,624,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Letters that open a window of time., August 19, 2001

By 

IHoldAStar (Lexington, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arna Bontemps-Langston Hughes Letters, 1925-1967 (Hardcover)

This is one of the most touching, endearing books I have ever been blessed to read. Think of it! For forty-two years Arna Bontemps and Langston Hughes wrote letters to each other---literally thousands of letters. From 1925 to 1967, when Mr. Hughes passed away---a period of astounding historical events, during which they wrote. Both men were born in 1902, and met in Harlem in 1924 when attending a poetry reading of Countee Cullen's. They became friends immediately, soon collaborating on their first of several successful books written together. Within the pages of these letters is a treasure trove. The wealth of information is incredibile. We begin during the Harlem Renaissance...then the south and New York City during the Depression...from this, World War II, followed by the many events of the fifties and sixties. Throughout it all, the men are struggling both as writers, and as African Americans during a time of horrendous Jim Crow and lynching. But the horrors of such discriminations do not defeat them...with untold courage and dignity both writers plunge onward. By the time both men reached retirement age, they each had become so famous that universities were diligently seeking to obtain their letters! Charles Nichols who selected and edited their letters here, writes a wonderful introduction about the lives of both men. Aside from a really neat chronology following the letters, the whole of the book is dedicated to the letters. There is so much here, folks. This is one, very awesome book, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable, detailed resource material., September 24, 2011

By 

Jimmy Watson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arna Bontemps-Langston Hughes Letters, 1925-1967 (Paperback)

I picked this book up at a 'bargain' book sale in Roswell, New Mexico 24 years ago and get more out of it every time I pick it up. Little things, like; how difficult it was for African-Americans to organize and complete a drive cross-country in the 20's, 30's, 40's and even 1950's. Where do you stay enroute? And, which is the safest route to take? How to contact people you can trust for an overnight stay in El Paso, Texas? These folks were undaunted in pursuit of their social and personal agendas and just kept forging ahead. Also got me interested in the fantastic work of Bontemps whom I'd never heard of before!