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The Big Sea: An Autobiography (American Century Series)
 
 
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The Big Sea: An Autobiography (American Century Series) (Paperback)

by Langston Hughes (Author), Arnold Rampersad (Introduction) "Melodramatic maybe, it seems to me now..." (more)
Key Phrases: wet wash laundry, haunted ship, mess boy, New York, Van Vechten, Grand Duc (more...)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Frequently Bought Together

The Big Sea: An Autobiography (American Century Series) + I Wonder as I Wander: An Autobiographical Journey (American Century Series) + The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
Price For All Three: $36.01

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Editorial Reviews

Review
"Langston Hughes is the Jazz Poet! The constant communicator of Blues. He is the singer, philosopher, the folk and urban lyricist. This book is the chronicle of a bright and lively artistic ear that brought the African-American people full into the twentieth century. It is a wonderful book!"--Amiri Baraka
-- Review

Review
"Langston Hughes is the Jazz Poet! The constant communicator of Blues. He is the singer, philosopher, the folk and urban lyricist. This book is the chronicle of a bright and lively artistic ear that brought the African-American people full into the twentieth century. It is a wonderful book!"--Amiri Baraka


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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
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2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Big Sea: A Treasure, September 11, 2000
By pearl cleage "pcleage" (atlanta, georgia United States) - See all my reviews
This book had a profound effect my life as a writer.My mother read it to me at night like fairy tales when I was very young. As I grew up and realized I wanted to write professionally, the lessons in The Big Sea made the writing life seem not only possible, but the best life a person could find. I would say without a doubt that this is my favorite book of all time. If I was marooned on a desert island, this would be the book I would take with me. From his base in Harlem, it shows Hughes embracing the whole world. The Big Sea is a book to read and treasure. again and again.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A compelling journey of understanding oneself and the world., August 27, 1998
Langston Hughes' book, "The Big Sea," is a chronicle of the legendary writer's life up until his first success as a writer. His journey's take him to Mexico, Africa, and Europe in a quest to find out his place in this world. In a time when being a person of color meant certain injustice, Hughes uses his travels to become aware of the "ways" of racism and how to combat it. An excellent book that is more an exciting adventure, than an autobiography.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing look at Langston Hughes and Harlem, May 19, 1997
By A Customer
Hughes, known primarily for his poetry and short stories, discusses his life. I found it intriguing that such a wonderful writer struggled so. Much like Maya Angelou's books, this book left me with the feeling that truly great people can overcome tremendous obstacles to succeed. Also like Maya's books, this book made me realize that many of my own troubles pale to those of some very successful people. Perhaps what I enjoyed most about this book was Hughes' reflection on Harlem, 1920s-1930s. His interaction with such greats as Van Vechten, Hurston, Thurman, and others was fascinating, leaving me wanting to know even more about 1920-30s life in Harlem. I truly enjoyed this book
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Path to Greatness
First of all, I dont think i've ever read a book so fast.
I borrowed a biography of Langstonn Hughes a number of years ago from a relative and started to read it. Read more
Published 18 months ago by H. Alexander

3.0 out of 5 stars travels with Langston
Langston hughes presents us with his travels. This is not a great book nor it a bad book. It falls in between the scope of what happens to a guy when he goes around the world and... Read more
Published 19 months ago by William D. Tompkins

4.0 out of 5 stars "Sometimes life is a ripe fruit too delicious for the taste of man."
Published when Hughes was 38, the subject of The Big Sea is the period of his life from 1902-1939. It covers a wide variety of episodes in Hughes' life, with key elements being... Read more
Published 21 months ago by C. Gilbert

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
I read this as an assignment in college and found it wonderfully painful in its realism and truth. A must read for every American, regardless of what ethic origin.
Published on May 12, 2007 by William C. Schell

5.0 out of 5 stars The journies of a Hero
"On a radio show, he (Hughes) defended the right of trumpeter Louis Armstrong, who had long faced the white world with a broad grin, to vent his racial anger. Read more
Published on July 17, 2006 by T. Kelley

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!!!!
Even though my book got lost in the mail, I was still able to get my money back. Thank you very much. I hope I have the chance to buy another book from you.
Published on September 27, 2005 by Jayson Pierre Jules

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful memoir
Langston Hughes was a wonderful poet and story teller so it is not surprising that his autobiography/memoir is a joy to read. Read more
Published on December 4, 2003 by Rehoboth Reader

4.0 out of 5 stars c.p.scottprosser
I thought that the story was realy nice.The charater had many changes to overcome. I like the way he through out his belongings, and started all over. Read more
Published on April 10, 2003 by cezary prochor

4.0 out of 5 stars c.p. ms.scott prosser
I enjoyed this book. It is mostly good exept for the begigging. When he started talking about his family was the boring part. The book i good so i recommend it to the readers. Read more
Published on March 16, 2003 by c.p. ms.scott prosser

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