American writer, noted for his novels on sexual and personal identity, and sharp essays on civil-rights struggle in the United States. Baldwin also wrote three plays, a children's storybook, and a book of short stories. 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.
I First read GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN in 9th grade, I had no Idea Who James was or what he was about. I had to pick a book out of a reading list & I randomly chose him; the irony of this choice was almost fate like.
