Author langston hughes biography book

  • James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri.
  • Great book about one of the most interesting writers in American history.
  • Story of the Missouri-born Negro poet who spent most of his life moving from place to place in a variety of jobs.

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    Langston Hughes

    American writer and social activist (–)

    For other uses, see Langston Hughes (disambiguation).

    James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, [1] – May 22, ) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary form eller gestalt called jazz poetry, Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance.

    Growing up in the Midwest, Hughes became a prolific writer at an early age. He moved to New York City as a young man, where he made his career. He studied at Columbia University in New York City. Although he dropped out, he gained notice from New York publishers, first in The Crisis magazine and then from book publishers, and became known in the creative community in Harlem. His first poetry collection, The Weary Blues, was published in Hughes eventually graduated from Lincoln University.

    In addition to poetry, Hughes wrote plays and published short story collections,

  • author langston hughes biography book

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    Langston Hughes

    Who Was Langston Hughes?

    Poet and writer Langston Hughes became a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance after his first poem was published in His first book of poetry followed five years later, in One of the first Black Americans to earn a living as a writer, Hughes went on to compose many more works of poetry, prose, and plays that center the 20th century African American experience and remain influential today. Some of his most famous poems are “Dreams,” “I, Too,” and “Harlem.” Additionally, he wrote a popular column for the Chicago Defender. In May , Hughes died in his mids from prostate cancer.

    Quick Facts

    FULL NAME: James Mercer Langston Hughes
    BORN: c. February 1,
    DIED: May 22,
    BIRTHPLACE: Joplin, Missouri
    ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius

    Early Life

    James Mercer Langston Hughes, better known as Langston Hughes, was born in Joplin, Missouri. His birth date—likely February 1, —is the subject of some debate. For decades, scholars believed his birth

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    Langston Hughes: American Poet

    March 10,
    I LOVED this book! The text is well-written and Catherine Deeter's illustrations are beautiful! This is a great introductory text for children about this important American poet. Alice Walker tells us stories from Langston's life that shaped who he became. His relationships with his largely absent, stingy, and black-hating father and his college-educated but transient and lavish mother were fascinating. I didn't realize until the end, when Alice explains why she wrote the book (which was originally published in ), that it was THE Alice Walker who wrote it. She includes small details that color the entire story, like the spider Langston remembers from the Mexico City earthquake when he was six years old, his grandfather's shawl that was bullet hole riddled, and the contrast of the color of his copper-brown skin with the black skin of the west Africans he spent time with.

    These are my favorite parts of this biography. On p. 30 Alice wrote, "B