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First published in 1974, From the Dark Tower is a survey of twenty-eight major black writers and their works from 1900 to 1960. Literary, biographical, and historical synopses of these writers are skillfully interwoven with critical analyses in a style accessible to students, scholars, and general readers. This volume is different from most books of criticism in that it is written from the perspective of a scholar who knew and observed most of the writers and cultural phenomena that shaped the modern black literary tradition. Choice chose this volume as one of the outstanding academic books of 1974-75. Dr. Arthur P. Davis divides his study into two broad periods he characterizes as "The New Negro Renaissance" (1900-1940) and "Toward the Mainstream" (1940-1960). Extensive, lucid introductions place the writers of both periods in perspective. The volume concludes with bibliographic information on each of the writers discussed and a postscript in which the author summarizes the general direction black writers have taken since 1960.