RaveThe Washington PostIn his vivid, engrossing biography, Lawrence Jackson, a professor at Johns Hopkins, gives us an in-depth portrait of Himes, an African American writer whose 20 published books stirred controversy with their depictions of sexuality, racism and social injustice ...writings were often more sensational than revered — and raised questions as to Himes’s place in modern literary history ... One of Jackson’s most important projects is observing how Himes created autobiographical fictions... Jackson tells the story with remarkable insight and care... Jackson is a fine biographer fully attentive to Himes’s personal history and to his place in literary history. He has indeed written the definitive biography that Himes — who died in 1984 — deserves.
