{"product_id":"the-later-simple-stories-lh8-langston-hughes-9780826214096","title":"The Later Simple Stories (Lh8): Volume 8","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn Volume 8 of \u003ci\u003eThe Collected Works of Langston Hughes, \u003c\/i\u003e the genial Harlem everyman, Jesse B. Semple returns with his more cosmopolitan bar buddy, Ananias Boyd. Social climber Joyce Lane is now Mrs. Jesse B. Semple, and Simple has minimized his flirtatious contacts with other women. Despite these ongoing characters, the later Simple stories are very different from the earlier Simple tales. The later stories evoke the historical and social context within which they were written, a politically dangerous time for the fictional adventures and fantasies of the main characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Later Simple Stories\u003c\/i\u003e returns to print Hughes's third and fourth Simple collections, \u003ci\u003eSimple Stakes a Claim\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSimple's Uncle Sam, \u003c\/i\u003e along with some episodes Hughes did not include in any of his books. \u003ci\u003eSimple Stakes a Claim\u003c\/i\u003e was published in 1957, and it reflects the troubled and troublesome era of the Cold War and McCarthy hearings. \u003ci\u003eSimple's Uncle Sam\u003c\/i\u003e appeared in 1965, and it captures the turbulent decade when black Americans asserted their rights, including the privilege to call themselves \"Black\" and wear their hair in natural styles. The nonviolent strategies of civil disobedience and the violent strategies of urban rioting had converged to amplify African American voices as they demanded justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe innocent humor of the earlier Simple stories is replaced here by new strengths. Remarkably powerful female characters emerge in this volume. We observe Cousin Minnie's self-preservation skills and her willingness to riot to defend her rights as a citizen. We read about Simple's cousin Lynn Clarisse, who is a social activist educated at Fisk University. And we see Joyce herself emerge from her prim niche to display pride and knowledge about her African heritage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Later Simple Stories\u003c\/i\u003e rounds out Hughes's presentation of Jesse B. Semple and the various people of his world. Simple and his foil still make us chuckle, but more important, they make us think. While these episodes often focus on particularities of the times, they also articulate broader truths that remain valuable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Langston Hughes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0826214096\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780826214096\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Missouri Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/11\/2002\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 368\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.60lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.20h x 6.40w x 1.29d","brand":"Langston Hughes","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48086995140863,"sku":"9780826214096","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_300ffba9-0442-4b9a-8104-2c10cdb8b787.jpg?v=1769097698","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-later-simple-stories-lh8-langston-hughes-9780826214096","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}