I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Inscribed -
Maya Angelou
1969 - Random House, New York - First Edition
A fine first edition signed and inscribed by Maya Angelou: ‘Joy! The caged bird sings of freedom.’
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ marks the first volume in what would ultimately become a seven volume autobiography. It was written in the months following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on 4 April 1968 - coincidentally, also Maya Angelou's birthday - at the suggestion of James Baldwin, as a way of working through her grief and depression over King's death. Baldwin would later call the resulting work "a Biblical study of life in the midst of death." Its themes of identity, racism, trauma, and literacy led to equal parts acclaim and criticism, with the book hailed as one of the greatest works of biography ever produced by an American author and one of the most frequently banned or challenged books in the United States. ‘Told with a winning combination of wit and wisdom, this is a paean to the powers of storytelling to build bridges across divides, and heal what has been damaged.’ – Anita Sethi, The Observer.
Large octavo (book size 21.5x14.6cm), pp. [6] 281 [1]. In publisher’s black cloth, spine lettered in gilt and scralet gilt, upper board initialled in gilt, top edge stained red. Dust jacket priced ‘$5.95’ to upper corner of front flap. Condition: Fine in fine dust jacket. Ref: 112620 Price: HK$ 30,000
‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ marks the first volume in what would ultimately become a seven volume autobiography. It was written in the months following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on 4 April 1968 - coincidentally, also Maya Angelou's birthday - at the suggestion of James Baldwin, as a way of working through her grief and depression over King's death. Baldwin would later call the resulting work "a Biblical study of life in the midst of death." Its themes of identity, racism, trauma, and literacy led to equal parts acclaim and criticism, with the book hailed as one of the greatest works of biography ever produced by an American author and one of the most frequently banned or challenged books in the United States. ‘Told with a winning combination of wit and wisdom, this is a paean to the powers of storytelling to build bridges across divides, and heal what has been damaged.’ – Anita Sethi, The Observer.
Large octavo (book size 21.5x14.6cm), pp. [6] 281 [1]. In publisher’s black cloth, spine lettered in gilt and scralet gilt, upper board initialled in gilt, top edge stained red. Dust jacket priced ‘$5.95’ to upper corner of front flap. Condition: Fine in fine dust jacket. Ref: 112620 Price: HK$ 30,000