Native Sons cover

Native Sons

by James Baldwin

"James Baldwin was newly recognized as the most brilliant black writer of his generation when his first book of essays, Notes of a Native Son, firmly established his reputation in 1955. No one was more pleased by the book's reception than Baldwin's high school friend Sol Stein. A rising New York editor, novelist, and playwright, Stein had suggested that Baldwin write the book and coaxed his old friend through the long and sometimes agonizing process of putting the volume together and seeing it into print. Now, in this new book, Sol Stein documents the story of his and Baldwin's intense creative partnership through newly uncovered letters, photos, inscriptions, and an illuminating memoir of the friendship that resulted in one of the classics of American literature. Also included in this book are the two works they created together - the story "Dark Runner" and the play Equal in Paris, both published here for the first time."--BOOK JACKET.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?