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James Baldwin

James Baldwin (1924–1987) was a novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and social critic. His first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, appeared in 1953 to excellent reviews, and his essay collections Notes of a Native Son and The Fire Next Time were bestsellers that made him an influential figure in the growing civil rights movement. Baldwin spent much of his life in France, where he moved to escape the racism and homophobia of the United States. He died in France in 1987, a year after being made a Commander of the French Legion of Honor.

Books

Celebrate Freedom on Juneteenth

Juneteenth commemorates the day the last enslaved people were emancipated in the United States on June 19, 1865. This Juneteenth, celebrate freedom via Black authors and trailblazers whose work continues to shape our culture, celebrates liberation, and acknowledges the ongoing work towards freedom and equality, still necessary over 150 years later. More Juneteenth Titles

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Oprah’s “The Books That Help Me Through”

Oprah Winfrey announced a new version of Oprah’s Book Club, a special collection of seven meaningful books – five of which are published by Penguin Random House .  She has named the collection, “The Books That Help Me Through.” Every week through November 30, Oprah will dive deeper into each book on Instagram (@oprahsbookclub),  exploring the

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The Great American Read

The Great American Read is a 9-hour, 8-episode PBS documentary series and public service campaign that explores and celebrates the power of reading, told through the prism of 100 best-loved novels (as chosen in a nationally-representative survey). It investigates how and why writers create their imaginary worlds, how we as readers are personally affected by

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