The Man Who Cried I Am
by John A. Williams
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Description
"The return to print of a classic novel of postwar American literature credited with being the most accurate fictional portrayal of the promises and bitter disappointments that heralded the expatriation of Black intellectuals and artists. The protagonist of John Williams's angry and brilliant novel The Man Who Cried I Am is Max Reddick, a Black American writer-a gifted novelist, a journalist, and a presidential speechwriter-who has spent his career fighting against the racism of white elites show more and the blacks who have copied their liberal positions. Now terminally ill, Reddick has nothing to lose. The novel takes place in a single day in May 1964 in Amsterdam and Leiden but through Max's reflections charts his journey through the 1940s and 50s, from New York to his expatriation in Paris, Amsterdam, and Africa, as he considers who he was, who he has become, and who he might yet be"-- show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
A fantastic novel that demands close attention. Complex characters, a plot that could be considered epic (or at least cinematic). A great comment on America, on writing, and on race. Williams has a number of good novels that are sadly overlooked. (He's also got a couple of stinkers, but who doesn't?) Check out !Click Song for more on black writers and the struggle to publish; This is My Country Too! for a fantastic look at american in the 60s; and Sissie, for a novel about family dynamics that plays with POV and voice.
A very powerful examination of the state the powerful force of racism in the U. S. in the 20th century. And the ending is mind blowing!
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Schomburg Centennial Reading List
100 works; 4 members
Author Information
17+ Works 612 Members
Awards and Honors
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Grote Beren (57)
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Man Who Cried I Am
- Original publication date
- 1967
- Important places
- Paris, France; Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
- Important events
- African-American Civil Rights Movement
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 249
- Popularity
- 129,892
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.95)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, French
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 12
- ASINs
- 8
