The Fire Next Time

An unflinching examination of black and white relations
An unflinching examination of black and white relations, The Fire Next Time shocked readers with its furious critique of America's racially determined poverty, and the oppression of black northern ghettos. The author knew his material: a onetime child preacher on the streets of Harlem, Baldwin moved to Paris in his 20s, hoping to leave behind his native land's endemic racism and homophobia. As one of the first openly gay novelists, he repudiated hypocrisy in brilliantly succinct prose. "People are not … terribly anxious to be equal," he writes, "but they love the idea of being superior." Whether he's dining with Nation of Islam founder Elijah Mohammed (and sardonically recalling the leader's infamous "white devil" evolutionary theories), or examining the contribution of black World War II veterans to the Civil Rights cause, Baldwin offers a powerful portrait of his time and place.

Copyright © 1962, 1963 by James Baldwin. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2008 by BBC Audiobooks America. All rights reserved. Copyright exists on all recordings issued by BBC Audiobooks America. Any unauthorized broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of such recordings in any manner whatsoever, will constitute an infringement of such copyright.