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Native Son (Perennial Classics) [Abridged] (Paperback)

by Richard Wright (Author) "Ralph Ellison declares in Shadow and Act that in Richard Wright's fiction, the Negro has a choice of one of three roles to assume: he..." (more)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 528 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins; abridged edition edition (Sep 1998)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0060929804
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060929800
  • Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 13.6 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 874,275 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #21 in  Books > Fiction > 20th Century Classics > Wright, Richard

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Product Description

Product Description

Not often is a black man the protagonist in American literature, but in Native Son, there is fiery, dramatic conflict in the story of Bigger Thomas, the man who wages a war between himself and the outside white world. Wright has given us a dramatic and impassioned look at life in the oppressed Black America. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


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First Sentence
Ralph Ellison declares in Shadow and Act that in Richard Wright's fiction, the Negro has a choice of one of three roles to assume: he can assume the role of passivity designed for him by the southern whites and resolve his personal conflicts through the emotional catharsis of religion; or he can strive for and establish his own middle-class society and thereby consciously or unconsciously become the white man's accomplice in oppression; or he can reject the entire southern white ideology and assume the role of a criminal, which will inevitably erupt into physical violence. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (3)
2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Tough and Uncompromising, 28 Jun 2005
By Peter Reeve (Thousand Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)      
This review is from: Native Son (Vintage classics) (Paperback)
Although "Native Son" is not written in the first person, the narrative concentrates almost exclusively on the central character, Bigger Thomas. This gives the story all the intensity and focus of a first-person account, but enables the author to use a more articulate voice than his subject would have been capable of. Few novelists have employed this technique in such an uncompromising way. We are with Thomas every breath, every step. I think few readers will get to like him, any more than Wright himself does, but we get to know and understand him. He is a product of 1930s America, of deeply ingrained racial prejudice and extreme economic disparity. Wright does not suggest that this excuses Bigger, only that it explains him. The writing style is lean and muscular, sparse and direct. We are given only bare descriptions as Wright allows action and dialogue to carry the story.

The plot is sound, the only really implausible element being the gathering of the entire cast of characters in the prison cell, something Wright himself acknowledged could not happen in reality but for which he allowed himself dramatic license. It is true though, that the final phase goes on too long and the long diatribes from Max are unconvincing. Another socialist writer, Upton Sinclair, suffered from the same tendency to preach instead of relying on the story to carry the message. Despite these reservations, "Native Son" remains an important social commentary and a forceful and compelling portrait of a lost soul.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A eye opening read, 4 April 2003
This review is from: Native Son (Vintage classics) (Paperback)
Guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, once picked up it's impossible to put down. If it's a fairy tale ending you're after, this definitely isn't for you. Descibing vividly the poverty, deprivation and oppression suffered by the black people of 1930/40's America, a special message is conveyed through a host of disturbing truths that are certain to hit the reader hard. The central character, Bigger Thomas is portrayed as both murderer and victim in this cleverly devised masterpiece. The sufferings of an entire race seem subject to the future of Thomas, the 20 year old man who's life has been predominantly controlled by a cold and fierce people. This WHITE blanket that smothers the BLACK world that Bigger grows to hate provides the reader with a situation they undoubtedly become passionate about. By the end, the reader is left feeling subdued; resentful yet compassionate and merciful. The only criticism i would have, is that the book does depend a lot upon the reader being able to empathise with Bigger, which is something that i personally found quite hard to do. Neverthless, another must read from Richard Wright.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to understand predudice read this, 15 Feb 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Native Son (Vintage classics) (Paperback)
This book encapsulates perfectly the feeling of hopelessness felt by people in poverty and in particular black people. The circumstances drive the central character to the ultimate crime as the only way to free him self. Inspite of his terrible deed you feel an empathy with him because of his situation. Riverting and driving narrative which leds you through his fears and unfulfilled hopes. Superb
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 		 Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A worthy effort
Bigger Thomas is a deeply disaffected black man living in post-Depression pre WW2 Chicago. He hates the white world as much as most of it appears to hate him and this novel... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Officer Dibble

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath-taking
This astounding novel pounds like a sledgehammer. It reads at breathtaking pace, and transports you into another person's head in the way that a good book should - you will... Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2006 by M. Zaman

4.0 out of 5 stars a compelling read
This book is very user friendly and the type of dramatic realism that can't fails to grasp one's attention. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2003 by CESP

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for A-Level and upwards
The notes are very helpful and go into enough depth for A-Level, or equivalent. A section is devoted to each area- eg, characters, plot sypnosis- which one may look to examine. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2001

3.0 out of 5 stars The Good, The Bad and the Tedious
I'll give it three.

The good:

This was first published in 1940, and began to set the issue climate for the civil rights movement. Read more

Published on 12 Sep 2000

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