Customer Reviews

Paul Laurence Dunbar (Black Americans of Achievement)

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The books I have read in this series, Black Americans of Achievement, have all been terrific. They are clearly written and easy for children to understand. They have marvelous black and white illustrations and photographs throughout. Each illustration and photograph has a caption that gives the reader more information about places, people, and events related to the subject of the biography.

The length of the books is just right. These books are long enough to cover the important events in the subject's life and to meet the requirements that teachers often give for book reports (a book longer than 50 pages. Yet they are short enough that they don't intimidate elementary school children. (This biography of Paul Laurence Dunbar has 110 pages.)

These books are well organized and informative. In the back are an appendix, a chronology of the person's life, a bibliography, and an index.

The biography of Paul Laurence Dunbar was fascinating. I am curious to know more about this poet, especially his religious beliefs. Also, I would like to read more of his writings. He had many obstacles to overcome, such as being poor and black at a time when racism was rampant. (He lived from 1872 to 1906.) Yet he worked hard, took risks, and persevered until he achieved his dream of being a successful poet and author. He was a very talented poet who inspired other black poets such as Langston Hughes. However, the latter years of his life were sad and tragic as he became chronically ill and developed an alcohol problem. Details about his alcohol problems were omitted, as is appropriate in a book written for elementary children. I am now interested in reading an adult biography and am curious to know if he turned to God for comfort in his despair.