Reviews for James Baldwin

The average rating for James Baldwin based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-11-03 00:00:00 Christy Kennedy Insightful, if conventional, James Baldwin clearly charts the course of the famous writer’s life and work. Leemings approaches Baldwin’s life chronologically from birth to death, establishing early on the major themes that structured his career and examining with painstaking detail every piece of art he created no matter how minor. The biographer adeptly demonstrates the impact the ups and downs of Baldwin’s personal life had on his books, and accounts for his turn in the ‘70s toward a bleaker worldview and less formal aesthetic. The biography’s well written but conventional and not especially compelling to read.

Review # 2 was written on 2017-08-31 00:00:00 James K Hammett I can see why people consider this the go to biography. It is really good and gives context. Leeming's writing is totally engaging. I learned quite a bit.