Books

Octavo, 112pp. Original gray paper wraps, title in blue on front cover. Rubber stamped date of "28 Oct 1963" and handwritten price of "15/-" on front cover. Near fine condition, with light wear to corners and spine. (Blockson 91) A rare example. James Baldwin (1924-1987) was a prolific writer and activist whose works often explored themes of race, sexuality, and identity in America. His novels and essays, including "Go Tell It on the Mountain," "Giovanni s Room," and "The Fire Next Time" delve deep into the complexities of societal injustice. The Fire Next Time features the first appearance in book form of Down at the Cross and My Dungeon Shook, previously serialized in The New Yorker and The Progressive.

A classic of the civil rights movement, 'The Fire Next Time' is a powerful evocation of James Baldwin's early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice which consists of two essays: 'My Dungeon Shook — Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of Emancipation,' and 'Down At The Cross — Letter from a Region of My Mind.'