Native Son [B0267]

2005 Perennial Classic PB, oft read and starting to look tired, with some underlining and notes. One of the 'Great American Novels'--The Atlantic. "If one had to identify the single most influential shaping force in modern Black literary history, one would probably have to point to Wright and the publication of Native Son." – Henry Louis Gates Jr. "The most powerful American novel to appear since The Grapes of Wrath." -The New Yorker. When it was first published in 1940, Native Son established Richard Wright as a literary star. In the decades since, Wright's masterpiece has become a revered classic that remains as timely and relevant today as when it first appeared. Set in Chicago in the 1930s, Native Son is the story of Bigger Thomas, a young Black man caught in a downward spiral after killing a young white woman in a brief moment of panic. Written with the distinctive rhythm of a modern crime story, this formidable work is both a condemnation of social injustice and an unsparing portrait of the Black experience in America, revealing the tragic effect of poverty, racism, and hopelessness on the human spirit. "I wrote Native Son to show what manner of men and women our 'society of the majority' breeds, and my aim was to depict a character in terms of the living tissue and texture of daily consciousness," Wright explained. This edition of Native Son-the restored text established by the Library of America-is the novel as Wright intended it to be published. It also includes an essay by Wright titled, How "Bigger" was Born, along with notes on the text.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I found the author touched with compassion on social prejudices. Made me rethink my own prejudices. I do recommend. Thoughtful"; "Wow! This book remains a seminal work in American literature, offering a haunting exploration of the intersection of race, class, and violence. Its relevance continues to resonate today, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of racial dynamics in America. Wright's exploration of Bigger Thomas's life serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of systemic oppression and the urgent need for societal change."