Captain Blackman [Paperback]

John A. Williams (Author), Alexs Pate (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: Black Art Movement | Publication Date: April 15, 2000

Vividly brings to life the history of African Americans in the military.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Wounded during a search-and-destroy mission in Vietnam, Captain Abraham Blackman lapses into a coma and hallucinates about the role of the black soldier past and present in this time-machine variation. PW called this "a dramatically sound and exciting retelling of history."
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

John A. Williams is the author of more than twenty books. He has taught at Sarah Lawrence College; University of California, Santa Barbara; Boston University; Rutgers University; New York University; Bard College, and more. He has been inducted into the Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent, a national organization honoring distinguished black authors. Williams lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Coffee House Press; 1st edition (April 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566890969
• ISBN-13: 978-1566890960
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,818,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A haunting book, January 27, 2011

By 

Melody Moskowitz (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Captain Blackman (Paperback)

The first review here gives the details so I don't need to do that but I do want to say that since I read this book I've never watched news about the many on-going U.S. wars the same way. Now I always have superimposed on the reports about our troops the voice of Captain Blackman contextualizing the current service of our troops. The voices of the servicemen, their interactions with each other and with civilians remain vivid for me. I recommend this book very very very highly for anyone interested in U.S. history, military history, African American history, and/or WONDERFUL WRITING.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic, historically accurate details, entertaining., June 6, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Captain Blackman (Paperback)

Captain Blackman is an American soldier in Vietnam who is seriously wounded. As he drifts in and out of consciousness he hallucinates back in time, as an African-American solider in each of America's wars from 1775 to 1975. John Williams is a superb craftsman whose novel is as engaging as it is original. The blending of fantasy and history is superlative and his message as entertaining as it is compelling. Captain Blackman is authentic, accurate, and detailed in its background details, compelling, appealing, and completely entertaining in its story.