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The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes (Vintage Classics) Paperback – October 31, 1995
| Langston Hughes (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
| Arnold Rampersad (Editor) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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Here, for the first time, are all the poems that Langston Hughes published during his lifetime, arranged in the general order in which he wrote them. Lyrical and pungent, passionate and polemical, the result is a treasure of a book, the essential collection of a poet whose words have entered our common language.
The collection spans five decades, and is comprised of 868 poems (nearly 300 of which never before appeared in book form) with annotations by Arnold Rampersad and David Roessel.Alongside such famous works as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and Montage of a Dream Deferred, The Collected Poems includes Hughes's lesser-known verse for children; topical poems distributed through the Associated Negro Press; and poems such as "Goodbye Christ" that were once suppressed.
- Print length736 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherVintage
- Publication dateOctober 31, 1995
- Dimensions6.22 x 1.82 x 9.1 inches
- ISBN-100679764089
- ISBN-13978-0679764083
- Lexile measureNP0L
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"The ultimate book for both the dabbler and serious scholar. [Hughes] is sumptuous and sharp, playful and sparse, grounded in an earthy music. This book is a glorious revelation." —Boston Globe
From the Inside Flap
Spanning five decades and comprising 868 poems (nearly 300 of which have never before appeared in book form), this magnificent volume is the definitive sampling of a writer who has been called the poet laureate of African America--and perhaps our greatest popular poet since Walt Whitman. Here, for the first time, are all the poems that Langston Hughes published during his lifetime, arranged in the general order in which he wrote them and annotated by Arnold Rampersad and David Roessel.
Alongside such famous works as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and Montage of a Dream Deferred, The Collected Poems includes the author's lesser-known verse for children; topical poems distributed through the Associated Negro Press; and poems such as "Goodbye Christ" that were once suppressed. Lyrical and pungent, passionate and polemical, the result is a treasure of a book, the essential collection of a poet whose words have entered our common language.
From the Back Cover
Spanning five decades and comprising 868 poems (nearly 300 of which have never before appeared in book form), this magnificent volume is the definitive sampling of a writer who has been called the poet laureate of African America--and perhaps our greatest popular poet since Walt Whitman. Here, for the first time, are all the poems that Langston Hughes published during his lifetime, arranged in the general order in which he wrote them and annotated by Arnold Rampersad and David Roessel.
Alongside such famous works as "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and Montage of a Dream Deferred, The Collected Poems includes the author's lesser-known verse for children; topical poems distributed through the Associated Negro Press; and poems such as "Goodbye Christ" that were once suppressed. Lyrical and pungent, passionate and polemical, the result is a treasure of a book, the essential collection of a poet whose words have entered our common language.
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem's heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on a record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you till day—
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.
Product details
- Publisher : Vintage; Annotated edition (October 31, 1995)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 736 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0679764089
- ISBN-13 : 978-0679764083
- Lexile measure : NP0L
- Item Weight : 2.24 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.22 x 1.82 x 9.1 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #24,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri.
He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "the negro was in vogue", which was later paraphrased as "when Harlem was in vogue".
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Carl Van Vechten [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
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Otherwise, you are dead,"
Langston Hughes
A worthy follow-up to reading The Big Sea, --- all of Langston Hughes poetry, separated into sections by the dates he wrote them. Some absolute treasures here. Quotable, memorable.
I would say more, but I am overwhelmed by his work. His jazz-poems, his unabashed blackness, his voice crying in the wilderness for justice. Poems like The Ne Cabaret Girl, I thought it was Tangiers I wanted, Porter, Aesthete in Harlem, and the unforgettable Advertisement for the Waldorf Astoria, are only a few of the gems you will find here.
Poetry.
By Amazon Customer on May 3, 2022
The events of May 2020 that focused BLM introduced me to the work and lives of poets including Langston Hughes and Lucille Clifton.
This pandemic has caused so many of us to spend our time differently. While I have always read a great deal. I had not been a fan of most poets as it was just not meaningful to me.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this collection as a gift or for yourself.
John J Hogan
I don't have time to send it back.
So disappointing
By alireza on December 10, 2022
I don't have time to send it back.
So disappointing
Top reviews from other countries
Many years ago before computers had conquered the world I came across a slip of paper used to mark a page in a second hand book on it were written the words. 'Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.' There was no clue as to the poet and try as I might I could not discover its origin. however each year I wrote the words on the opening page of my new diary.
Then one day I discovered its was written by Langston Hughes the American poet. I wanted to know more of him, so much more.When I bought this volume it was as though all my birthdays had come at once.If you enjoy poetry you will find this work spellbinding and moving beyond belief. An absolute treasure beckoning you to take a journey of discovery. Library bound it will last through to a future generation a testament to its time and events.












