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...)

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 356 pages
• Publisher: Hill and Wang (August 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809015498
• ISBN-13: 978-0809015498
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #156,441 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #6 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( H ) > Hughes, Howard
  #8 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > African American > Hughes, Langston
  #51 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Movements & Periods > Renaissance

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

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.

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

By	[e-mail] (Miami, FL) - See all my reviews

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.

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