"James Baldwin was born for truth. It called upon him to tell it on the mountains, to preach it in Harlem, to sing it on the Left Bank in Paris. . . . He was a giant." — Maya Angelou
This collectible edition celebrates James Baldwin’s 100th-year anniversary, delving into his years in France and Switzerland
Originally published in
Notes of a Native Son
, the essays, "Encounter on the Seine: Black Meets Brown," "A Question of Identity," "Equal in Paris," and "Stranger in the Village" will appeal to readers interested in Baldwin's observations as a Black man overseas.
During his transformative time in Europe, Baldwin uncovers what it means to be American, immersing the reader in his life as a foreigner, his troubling encounter with a Parisian prison, and his unprecedented arrival to a tiny Swiss village.
This final collection in the Baldwin centennial anniversary series raises issues of identity, belonging, nationhood, and race within a global context.
Encounter on the Seine: Essays
showcases Baldwin’s strengths as a storyteller, revealing how his years in Paris transformed his understanding of American identity.