Richard Wright: Critical Prespectives Past And Present (Amistad Literary Series) [Paperback]

Henry L. Gates (Author)

Book Description

Series: Amistad Literary Series | Publication Date: February 11, 2000

Richard Wright
(1908 -- 1960)

Of the numerous achievements that distinguish Richard Wright's place in the history of American literature, perhaps none is more important than the fact that he was the first African-American writer to sustain himself professionally from his writings alone. Primarily through the success of Native Sonand Black Boy, Wright was able to support, for two decades, a comfortable life for himself and his family in Paris. He also became, with the publication of Native Sonalone, the first internationally celebrated Black American author. If one had to identify the single most influential shaping force in modern Black literary history, one would probably have to point to Wright and the publication of Native Son,his first and most successful novel.

-- from the Preface by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter J. Gomes was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1942. He graduated from Bates College and Harvard Divinity School. After teaching and serving as director of freshman studies at Tuskegee Institute, he went to Harvard in 1970 as assistant minister in The Memorial Church. Gomes has been minister in The Memorial Church since 1974, when he was appointed Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; 1st PB Edition edition (February 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1567430279
• ISBN-13: 978-1567430271
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,814,076 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was an exellent portrayal of Wright's work, March 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Richard Wright: Critical Prespectives Past And Present (Amistad Literary Series) (Paperback)

When faced with a difficult term paper I turned to this book. It provided me with invaluable information to include in my paper. Wright's work, in my opinion, is some of the most senstional writing in modern times and needs to be represented well. This book vividly describes his progression into authorhood and his works from there on in. I would recommend this book to anyone in search of the ultimate research resource.