This posthumously published novel from acclaimed author James Baldwin is a fascinating glimpse into the formative years of a complex and enigmatic protagonist. Robert Dudley, the book's narrator, reflects on his early life and experiences growing up in Harlem in the 1920s and 30s, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that shaped his identity as a black man in a segregated society. Baldwin's lyrical prose and layered characterizations make this a powerful and moving work of literature. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.