James Baldwin, página 3 de 7

Esta impecable reimpresión de Nothing Personal (Nada personal), la meticulosa monografía de Richard Avedon y James Baldwin, explora las contradicciones de la sociedad estadounidense con temas que van desde Marilyn Monroe y Allen Ginsberg a los pacientes de un hospital psiquiatrico y el partido nazi de Estados Unidos. Un cuaderno adicional de 72...El viaje estadounidense de Richard Avedon y James BaldwinRegresa al fin a las librerias la impresionante obra de Avedon y Baldwin de 1964Esta impecable reimpresion de Nothing Personal, de Richard Avedon y James Baldwin, explora las complejidades y contradicciones de la sociedad estadounidense y es especialmente oportuna en la era de Donald Trump. A traves de sus imagenes y texto, Avedon y Baldwin analizan la formacion de la identidad y los sistemas de relaciones que conectan y separan a las personas. Un cuaderno adicional de 72 paginas incluye un ensayo reciente del critico y ganador del Premio Pulitzer Hilton Als, imagenes ineditas de Avedon, correspondencia, diseños preliminares y material documental.Hacia 1963-1964, los antiguos amigos de instituto Richard Avedon, por aquel entonces uno de los fotografos mas famosos del mundo, y James Baldwin, un novelista y ensayista muy popular al tiempo que voz literaria de referencia en la lucha por los derechos civiles en Estados Unidos, colaboraron en Nothing Personal, un libro sobre la vida en Estados Unidos.El elenco de personajes de Avedon incluye desde iconos de la lucha por los derechos civiles hasta intelectuales, politicos, cantantes pop, pacientes de un hospital psiquiatrico y estadounidenses corrientes, todos ellos cuidadosamente ordenados, contrapuestos y recortados. El Partido Nazi Americano se enfrenta al poeta Allen Ginsberg y un agotado general Eisenhower da paso al vigor de Malcolm X. A los vulnerables pacientes de un hospital psiquiatrico, privados de calor humano, les sigue el abrazo de una madre y su hijo.El ensayo de Baldwin es una critica a una sociedad que considera injusta, alienante, divisiva y, en consecuencia, sumida en una crisis existencial. En un relato tan personal como pertinente, Baldwin escribe sobre el acoso que el mismo sufrio por parte de un policia racista en su Nueva York natal. Sin embargo, Baldwin, al igual que Avedon, culmina su trabajo mencionando la ineludible necesidad (y el poder) del amor.Diseñado por el legendario director artistico Marvin Israel, Nothing Personal es una gesta artistica del minimalismo. Un volumen de gran formato presentado en su propio estuche blanco en el que la sorprendente disposicion de imagenes y texto revoluciono el diseño de los libros de fotografia. La presente edicion ofrece una meticulosa reimpresion del original, descatalogado desde hace decadas, producido en estrecha colaboracion con la Fundacion Richard Avedon.Hilton Als, antiguo colega de Avedon en The New Yorker y experto en la obra de Baldwin, narra la creacion de Nothing Personal y documenta la amistad y la relacion creativa entre ambos artistas. Als tambien reflexiona de un modo conmovedor sobre como la obra influyo en su propia vida y en su amistad con Avedon.Cuando se publico en 1964, la vision de Estados Unidos de Avedon y Baldwin levanto una gran polemica y ambos fueron objeto de duras criticas por su condicion de liberales elitistas ymoralistas de Hollywoodque no representaban los sentimientos de los estadou...

Publicado por primera vez en 1963, el libro de James Baldwin The Fire Next Time (La próxima vez el fuego) apuntó directamente al corazón del llamado “problema negro” de Estados Unidos. Tan destacable

Un retrat del Harlem dels anys setanta i de la societat capitalista americana, que ens recorda a que ens hem daferrar quan la foscor ho inunda tot.En aquesta novel·la commovedora, James Baldwin narra la historia damor de la Tish i en Fonny, dos joves afroamericans que han fet plans per casar-se i esperen un fill. Les seves vides, pero, fan un gir inesperat quan en Fonny es acusat de violacio i ha dentrar a la preso. A partir daquest moment, la jove parella apren a viure lamor duna manera encara mes pura, fent-lo transcendir per sobre de la rabia i la desesperacio, mentre les seves families emprenen una lluita aferrissada contra un sistema arbitrari i corrupte per alliberar el protagonista de la preso.Una historia tenyida del regust agredolç duna canço de blues en la qual Baldwin fa el retrat, ple duna violencia no sempre continguda, del Harlem dels anys setanta i de la societat capitalista americana, on el racisme, les desigualtats de classe i el masclisme campen arreu, pero on lafany de supervivencia i la solidaritat floreixen al llarg de les experiencies de dos personatges profundament conscients del que els ha tocat viure i sentir. Una novel·la que ens recorda a que ens hem daferrar quan la foscor ho inunda tot.Nascut a Harlem el 1924, James Baldwin va començar a escriure durant els ultims anys de les lleis de segregacio racial als Estats Units. El seu corpus literari explora les implicacions psicologiques del racisme i el sentiment didentitat. La seva primera novel·la, Go tell it on the mountain, es va publicar el 1953 i va rebre una acollida excel·lent per part de la critica, i els seus reculls dassaigs Notes of a native son i The fire next time van esdevenir best-sellers que el van convertir en una figura influent en els moviments a favor dels drets civils de les minories. Baldwin va passar gran part de la seva vida a França, on es va traslladar per escapar del racisme i lhomofobia dels Estats Units. Va morir a Sant Pau de Vença lany 1987.

«Aquest és el llibre que havia d’escriure si mai volia escriure res més.» James BaldwinEn el Harlem dels anys trenta tothom dona per fet que el jove John Grimes serà predicador com en Gabriel, el seu

Ambientada en el mundo bohemio del París de los cincuenta, La habitación de Giovanni es un clásico de la literatura gay. Su tema principal versa en torno al despertar de un hombre joven ante su verda

James Baldwin's ability to create lasting literature that continues to challenge readers is made abundantly clear in the short story "Sonny's Blues"; the essays "My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation" from "The Fire Next Time"; "Fifth Avenue, Uptown: A Letter from Harlem"; and other celebrated pieces.

Publicado em 1963, Da próxima vez, o fogo se tornou um clássico incontornável no debate sobre os direitos civis nos Estados Unidos.Não acredite na palavra de ninguém, inclusive na minha, mas confie e

Voz incontornável da literatura norte-americana do século XX, James Baldwin escreve aqui a sua carta ao mundo: um manifesto apaixonado e apaixonante contra todo o tipo de discriminação.«A obra pionei

PERHAPS no other stories have ever been told so often or listened to with so much pleasure as the classic tales of ancient Greece. For many ages they have been a source of delight to young people and old, to the ignorant and the learned, to all who love to hear about and contemplate things mysterious, beautiful, and grand. They have become so incorporated into our language and thought, and so interwoven with our literature, that we could not do away with them now if we would. They are a portion of our heritage from the distant past, and they form perhaps as important a part of our intellectual life as they did of that of the people among whom they originated.That many of these tales should be read by children at an early age no intelligent person will deny. Sufficient reason for this is to be found in the real pleasure that every child derives from their pe-rusal: and in the preparation of this volume no other reason has been considered. I have here attempted to tell a few stories of Jupiter and his mighty company and of some of the old Greek he-roes, simply as stories, nothing more. I have care-fully avoided every suggestion of interpretation. Attempts at analysis and explanation will always prove fatal to a childs appreciation and enjoyment of such stories. To inculcate the idea that these tales are merely descriptions of certain natural phenomena expressed in narrative and poetic form, is to deprive them of their highest charm; it is like turning precious gold into utilitarian iron: it is changing a delightful romance into a dull scientific treatise. .

THE romance entitled "The Achievements of the Ingenious Gentleman, Don Quixote de la Mancha," was originally written in Spanish by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. It was published in two parts, the first in 1605 and the second in 1615now just about three hundred years ago. Among the great books of the world it holds a permanent place. It has been translated into every language of Europe, even Turkish and Slavonic. It has been published in numberless editions. It has been read and enjoyed by men of the most diverse tastes and conditions.The story is so simple that every one can understand it, and yet it has in it so much wisdom that the wisest may derive pleasure from it. It touches the sen-se of humor in every heart. It moves to pity rather than ridicule, and to tears as well as laughter. And herein lies its chief claim to greatness, that it seems to have been written not for one country nor for one age alone, but to give delight to all mankind. "It is our joyfullest modern book."In its original form, however, it is a bulky work, dismaying the present-day reader by its vastness. For it fills more than a thousand closely printed pages, and the story itself is interrupted and encumbered by episodes and tedious passages which are no longer interesting and which we have no time to read. The person who would get at the kernel of this famous book and know something of its plan and its literary worth, must either struggle through many pages of tiresome details and unnecessary digressions, or he must resort to much ingenious skipping. In these days of many books and hasty reading, it is scarcely possible that any person should read the whole of Don Quixote in its original form. And yet no scholar can afford to be ignorant of a work so famous and so enjoyable.These considerations have led to the preparation of the present small volume. It is not so much an ab-ridgment of the great book by Cervantes as it is a rewriting of some of its most interesting parts. While very much of the work has necessarily been omitted, the various adventures are so related as to form a continuous narrative; and in every way an effort is made to give a clear idea of the manner and content of the original. Although Cervantes certainly had no thought of writing a story for children, there are many passages in Don Quixote which appeal particularly to young readers; and it is hoped that this adaptation of such passages will serve a useful purpose in awakening a desire to become further acquainted with that great worlds classic..

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS discovered America on the 12th of October, 1492. He had spent eighteen years in planning for that wonderful first voyage which he made across the Atlantic Ocean. The thoughts and hopes of the best part of his life had been given to it. He had talked and argued with sailors and scholars and princes and kings, saying, "I know that, by sailing west across the great ocean, one may at last reach lands that have never been visited by Europeans." But he had been laughed at as a foolish dreamer, and few people had any faith in his projects.At last, however, the king and queen of Spain gave him ships with which to make the trial voyage. He crossed the ocean and discovered strange lands, inhabited by a people unlike any that had been known before. He believed that these lands were a part of India.When he returned home with the news of his discovery there was great rejoicing, and he was hailed as the hero who had given a new world to Spain. Crowds of people lined the streets through which he passed, and all were anxious to do him honor. The king and queen welcomed him to their palace and listened with pleasure to the story of his voyage. Never had so great respect been shown to any common man.But there were some who were jealous of the discoverer, and as ready to find fault as others were to praise. "Who is this Columbus?" they asked, "and what has he done? Is he not a pauper pilot from Italy? And could not any other seaman sail across the ocean just as he has done?"One day Columbus was at a dinner which a Spanish gentleman had given in his honor, and several of these persons were present. They were proud, conceited fellows, and they very soon began to try to make Columbus uncomfortable."You have discovered strange lands beyond the sea," they said. "But what of that? We do not see why there should be so much said about it. Anybody can sail across the ocean; and anybody can coast along the islands on the other side, just as you have done. It is the simplest thing in the world."Columbus made no answer; but after a while he took an egg from a dish and said to the company, "Who among you, gentlemen, can make this egg stand on end?"

IN the year 1719 an Englishman whose name was Daniel Defoe wrote a very long story, which he called "The Life and Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." His story was not designed for children, and therefore it contained a great deal of hard reading. There was much in it, however, that was interesting to young people, and from that day to this, the marvelous tale of Robinson Crusoe has been a favorite with boys as well as men. I have rewritten the story in words easy for every child, and have shortened it by leaving out all the dull parts.I WISH TO BE A SAILORMY name is Robinson Crusoe. I was born in the old city of York, where there is a broad river, with ships coming and going. When I was a little boy, I spent much of my time looking at the river.How pleasant was the quiet stream, flowing, always flowing,Toward the far-away sea!

YOU have heard of Homer, and of the two wonderful poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey, which bear his name. No one knows whether these poems were composed by Homer, or whether they are the work of many different poets. And, in fact, it matters very little about their authorship. Everybody agrees that they are the grandest poems ever sung or written or read in this world; and yet, how few persons, comparatively, have read them, or know any thing about them except at second-hand!Homer commences his story, not at the beginning, but "in the midst of things;" hence, when one starts out to read the Iliad without having made some special preparation beforehand, he finds it hard to understand, and is tempted, in despair, to stop at the end of the first book. Many people are, therefore, content to admire the great masterpiece of poetry and story-telling simply because others admire it, and not because they have any personal acquaintance with it.Now, it is not my purpose to give you a "simplified version" of the Iliad or the Odyssey. There are already many such versions; but the best way for you, or any one else, to read Homer, is to read Homer. If you do not understand Greek, you can read him in one of the many English translations. You will find much of the spirit of the original in the translations by Bryant, by Lord Derby, and by old George Chapman, as well as in the admirable prose rendering by Butcher and Lang; but you can get none of it in any so-called simplified version.My object in writing this "Story of the Golden Age" has been to pave the way, if I dare say it, to an enjoyable reading of Homer, either in translations or in the original. I have ta-ken the various legends relating to the causes of the Trojan war, and, by assuming certain privileges never yet denied to story-tellers, have woven all into one continuous narrative, ending where Homers story begins. The hero of the Odysseya character not always to be admired or commendedis my hero. And, in telling the story of his boyhood and youth, I have taken the opportunity to repeat, for your enjoyment, some of the most beautiful of the old Greek myths. If I have, now and then, given them a coloring slightly different from the original, you will remember that such is the right of the story-teller, the poet, and the artist. The essential features of the stories remain unchanged. I have, all along, drawn freely from the old tragedians, and now and then from Homer himself; nor have I thought it necessary in every instance to mention authorities, or to apologize for an occasional close imitation of some of the best translations. The pictures of old Greek life have, in the main, been derived from the Iliad and the Odyssey, and will, I hope, help you to a better understanding of those poems when you come to make acquaintance directly with them.Should you become interested in the "Story of the Golden Age," as it is here related, do not be disappointed by its somewhat abrupt ending; for you will find it continued by the master-poet of all ages, in a manner both inimitable and unapproachable. If you are pleased with the discourse of the porter at the gate, how much greater shall be your delight when you stand in the palace of the king, and hearken to the song of the royal minstrel!