Just Above My Head
Just Above My Head by James Baldwin, published by Penguin Books Limited on October 27, 1994, is a New Ed edition comprising 608 pages. This novel explores the life of Arthur Montana, a celebrated figure known as the ‘Emperor of Soul,’ whose death prompts his brother to reflect on their shared history. The narrative spans thirty years, detailing their experiences from childhood in Harlem to the complexities of adulthood, intertwined with themes of family life and the impact of racial politics.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of relationships and societal challenges as Baldwin delves into the lives of Arthur and his friends. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, capturing the essence of their struggles with war, poverty, and the pursuit of love and fame. Through Hall Montana’s perspective, Baldwin’s narrative reveals the profound ways in which personal and political realms intersect, offering insights into the human condition and the bonds of siblinghood.
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‘This is the work of a born storyteller at the height of his powers’ Edmund White, Washington Post
When Arthur Montana, world-renowned ‘Emperor of Soul’, is found dead in a London pub, his grief-stricken brother looks back over thirty years in the lives of their group of friends: from their childhood spent preaching and singing in Harlem churches, to their struggles with war and poverty, and their encounters with wealth, love and fame.
Set against a vividly drawn background of the civil rights movement of the sixties, Baldwin’s last novel is a monumental saga that ranges from New York to Paris, Korea to Africa to portray how profoundly racial politics can shape life, especially in the private business of love.
‘Warm, melancholy . . . Hall Montana’s voice is the conduit for Baldwin’s most distinctive quality as a writer, his abundant tenderness’ The New York Times
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