Lorraine Hansberry Audio Collection CD [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Lorraine Hansberry (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009

Lorraine Hansberry wrote of Black consciousness before it was fashionable, but she bequeathed to all of us a legacy astounding in its richness and relevancy. Few writers, black or white, are more relevant to present-day America than Lorraine Hansberry.

Here, for the first time, Caedmon has gathered many of her plays, interviews, and speeches into one unforgettable collection.

A Raisin in the Sun: an emotionally lacerating landmark of modem American theatre. A full-cast production starring Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.

To Be Young, Gifted and Black: a glowing, vibrant, searing and, at the same time, redemptively joyous self-portrait. A full-cast production starring James Earl Jones.

Lorraine Hansberry Speaks Out: seven interviews and speeches, recorded between 1959 and 1964, that range in topic from integration to backlash to the greatness and limitations of AfricanAmerican leadership.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lorraine Hansberry was the youngest American playwright ever to win the Best American Play Award from the New York Drama Critics' Circle. Her other works include The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window and Les Blancs. She died of cancer at thirty-four.

From AudioFile

This production begins with Hansberry's play, A RAISIN IN THE SUN, which is followed by an autobiographical montage, and interviews and speeches recorded between 1959 and 1964. The work sheds light on Hansberry's regrettably short but passionately lived life of the mind. Both the play and autobiographical patchwork comprising the second piece ("To Be Young, Gifted and Black") are powerfully performed by the resonant, memorable voices of James Earl Jones, Ruby Dee, and Ossie Davis, among others. But the most astonishing voice of all is Hansberry's own, so cool and articulate, especially when interviewed by a testy-sounding Mike Wallace, who questions her winning the New York Drama Critics' Circle award. Hanberry's poise under fire, eloquence, and fiercely held convictions will linger in listeners' minds. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Caedmon; Abridged edition (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061768952
• ISBN-13: 978-0061768958
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Books on CD > Poetry & Drama
  • #99 in Books > Books on CD > Literature & Fiction > Poetry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating anthology offering a glimpse into the mind and spirit of an American genius, June 14, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: Lorraine Hansberry Audio Collection CD (Audio CD)

Lorraine Hansberry Audio Collection is the audiobook rendition of collected works by award-winning African American playwright Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965). Of especial note in this anthology is "A Raisin in the Sun", a full-cast production of the turbulent emotional drama starring Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, and "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black", a full-cast production of Hansberry's classic self-portrait starring James Earl Jones. The third portion is "Lorraine Hansberry Speaks Out", a collection of seven interviews and speeches with the talented playwright, recorded between 1959 and 1964. A captivating anthology offering a glimpse into the mind and spirit of an American genius during the dawn of the civil rights era, highly recommended especially for public library audiobook collections. 5 CDs, 6 hours.