Understanding James Baldwin

"In Understanding James Baldwin, Marc Dudley positions Baldwin's writings as serious political explorations of American-ness, including our racial, sexual, gendered, and moral triumphs and failings. In the process, Dudley comments on the salvic power of Baldwin's writing and attests to Baldwin's belief in the power of love to resolve America's most pressing issues. As importantly, Dudley connects Baldwin's work to the current sociopolitical moment. Understanding James Baldwin is a truly worthy read for both Baldwin scholars and for those new to the work for this formidable writer."—Sheila Smith McKoy, Kennesaw State University

"Given the renaissance of interest in James Baldwin, Marc Dudley's Understanding James Baldwin couldn't have appeared at a more appropriate moment. One particularly laudable dimension of this work is its comprehensive scope; Dudley attends to the multiple genres in which Baldwin wrote: fiction, essay, drama, and poetry. With rigor and sensitivity, he offers novel interpretations of classic texts. This splendidly written study is accessible to multiple audiences, speaking as lucidly to students and scholars as it does to the broader community of readers."—Keith Clark, George Mason University