American essayist, novelist, and playwright, noted for his novels on sexual and personal identity, and sharp essays on civil-rights struggle in the United States. His eloquence and passion on the subject of race in America made him an important voice, and one of the most influential authors of his time, particularly in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Although he spent a great deal of his life abroad, James Baldwin always remained a quintessentially American writer. Whether he was working in Paris or Istanbul, he never ceased to reflect on his experience as a black man in white America. In numerous essays, novels, plays, and public speeches, the eloquent voice of James Baldwin spoke of the pain and struggle of black Americans and the saving power of brotherhood. He gained fame with his first novel, GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN (1953), a story of hidden sins, guilt, and religious torments. In this and subsequent works Baldwin fused autobiographical material with analysis of social injustice and prejudices. Several of his novels dealt with homosexual liaisons. Baldwin’s most popular play is BLUES FOR MR.CHARLIE. (1964); a volume of short stories.
