If Beale Street Could Talk [J0105]

2006 - PB reprint of 1974 original. Nice clean condition. From one of the most important writers of the twentieth century comes a stunning love story about a young Black woman whose life is torn apart when her lover is wrongly accused of a crime. Told through the eyes of Tish, a nineteen-year-old girl, in love with Fonny, a young sculptor who is the father of her child, Baldwin's story mixes the sweet and the sad. Tish and Fonny have pledged to get married, but Fonny is falsely accused of a terrible crime and imprisoned. Their families set out to clear his name, and as they face an uncertain future, the young lovers experience a kaleidoscope of emotions-affection, despair, and hope. In a love story that evokes the blues, where passion and sadness are inevitably intertwined, Baldwin has created two characters so alive and profoundly realized that they are unforgettably ingrained in the American psyche.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Stunningly written obviously, turned my stomach over and over from anxiety and sadness, but it really is so gorgeous."; "Fleshed out characters, stunning prose, poignant musings, and the full range of human emotions."; "Baldwin has such a way with words. What an incredible writer. These feel so nostalgic for a time I wasn't a part of. I really gave a good time envisioning what he's written. It's almost poetic and I don't know how he does it but his writing feels so timeless. Excellent read!"