16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Radiant Man Of Courage, Talent And Spirit!, June 17, 2001
This review is from: The Undiscovered Paul Robeson , An Artist's Journey, 1898-1939 (Hardcover)
What an outstanding book about a dazzling man that can only bring pride to every American, joy to anyone hearing him sing, and praise knowing his full life story.
The book finally shows that Paul Robeson is an icon far beyond his time. He could have lived just the good life based on his talents in academics, entertainment and sports. Robeson earning a comfortable life of opulence with his talents his first 40 years only to give it away to stand up to the injustices he saw in America and the world. He practice when you are given much in life you must give back even more and he did losing much for his show of valance.
If you ever heard the English words of the Soviet Anthem sung by Robeson, you understand the meaning of justice in life. It must be remembered that this was when Russia along with Ghandi in India were opposing Nazi Germany in Spain, Fascist Italy in Ethiopia and Colonialism in Africa and Asia.
Robeson was for equality, fairness and civility. They opposed Fascism, Colonialism and Racism just like many came to do in the West, but at a much later date. Robeson never accepted the atrocities of Stalin and indeed never met him. In fact, many of Robeson's friends in Russia were actually purged and murdered by Stalin.
Consequently, by becoming the most popular singer in Russia in 1930's and supporter of Russia against Hitler in the 1940's actually branded you an archenemy of America in the 1950's. A terrible sad situation but very true. In the end, this yeoman of ability and audacity was wrongly put on many blacklists that forced his legend into the entertainment and political dump heap of oblivion.
Later there is no doubt that the courageous deeds of Paul Robeson only spawn the acts of Dr. Martin Luther King. These same people led the changes in America that were required so opportiunbities for all replaced the discrimination of the many. The same thing can be said to have happen in Russia when Stalinist's policies were finally exposed for the treachery and exploitation to enslave minds instead of freeing them. The book proclaims the costs of calling real heroes traitors for seeking to oppose the power of such tyranny.
Paul Robeson is to be admire as much as any person in America. He is my favorite singer and after reading this book you will see few men could equal his talent and even fewer his grit. I highly recommend this book and hope it in made into a movie.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Rediscovering Paul Robeson...", September 26, 2001
This review is from: The Undiscovered Paul Robeson , An Artist's Journey, 1898-1939 (Hardcover)
For those of us who knew only that this great and gifted Renaissance man had fallen out of political favor of a paranoid United States, this is a great opportunity to see who he really was. Written by his son, this first volume study of Paul Robeson's life is replete with photographs, diary entries, and correspondence of the type only a family member might have. Paul Robeson Jr. spent a good part of his formative years away from his famous parents, and his view of their sometimes strained marriage, held together primarily by their preoccupation with Robeson's career, is remarkably detatched. This is an excellent snapshot of an era when the life of a black artist was complicated by American racism, and the tremendous intellect of a thoughtful genius who had his own views of the world could be stifled by an America unwilling to open its mind.
A must read for anyone wishing to understand this aspect of African America in the 20th century. I look forward eagerly to the second volume.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Who Was The Real Paul Robeson?, June 9, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Undiscovered Paul Robeson , An Artist's Journey, 1898-1939 (Hardcover)
I highly recommend "The Undiscovered Paul Robeson" because it provides insightful information for both those readers who know a lot about Paul Robeson and those who do not. One of the most significant figures of the 20th century, this book paints a definitive picture of the key influences of his formative years. Born in 1898, he was raised by his minister father (who was an escaped slave)in the African-American church culture. The book shows how he became a football star,and an internationally famous concert singer and actor who dedicated his art to the struggles of his people for full equality. The book is particularly interesting because it uses Paul Robeson's own words as culled from his diaries, correspondence, and personal conversations with his son and other intimates, and from his wife's diaries. Paul Robeson legacy is important for us to know about. He helped to change the racial stereotype prevalent in the first half of the 20th century by presenting a dignified male image on stage and off; he was the first artist to legitimize spirituals as significant concert material; and he always reflected the dual image of an African-American rooted in his own culture who simultaneously believed in the oneness of the human spirit worldwide. More Americans need to know more about Paul Robeson!
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