Four Pulp-Coded Baldwins
Baldwin, James. Nobody Knows My Name: More Notes of a Native Son. Dell Books, 1964 (5th Dell Printing). Softbound. $20.
Baldwin, James. Giovanni's Room. Dell Books, 1964 (Stated 1st Dell Printing). Softbound. $20.
Baldwin, James. The Fire Next Time. Dell Books, 1964 (Stated 1st Dell Printing). Softbound. $20.
Baldwin, James. Blues for Mister Charlie. Dell Books, 1969 (7th Dell Printing). Softbound. $20.
Four pulpy treatments of four essential Baldwin titles, embodying a high-low tension between classic lit and the mass market. At the age of 14, while struggling with his sexuality, Baldwin briefly turned to Christianity and spent some time preaching, an experience he reflects on in an essay included in The Fire Next Time. The pulpit helped teach him that he had a gift for words, and by the time he graduated from high school, his yearbook motto was, 'Fame is the spur and—ouch!'
All four books have tight, square, uncreased spines and clean, unmarked interiors. Their pages are fairly toned and they all have moderate edge-wear. Mass-Market Paperbacks.
