The Big Sea Audiobook By Langston Hughes, Arnold Rampersad cover art

The Big Sea

An Autobiography

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The Big Sea

By: Langston Hughes, Arnold Rampersad
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
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Langston Hughes, born in 1902, came of age early in the 1920s. In The Big Sea he recounts those memorable years in the two great playgrounds of the decade - Harlem and Paris. In Paris he was a cook and waiter in nightclubs. He knew the musicians and dancers, the drunks and dope fiends. In Harlem he was a rising young poet - at the center of the "Harlem Renaissance."

Arnold Rampersad writes in his incisive new introduction to The Big Sea, an American classic: "This is American writing at its best - simpler than Hemingway; as simple and direct as that of another Missouri-born writer...Mark Twain."

©1940 Langston Hughes (P)2011 Random House Audio African American African American Studies Americas Black & African American Cultural & Regional Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences Specific Demographics United States Biography

Featured Article: 175+ of the Best Quotes from Black Authors, Activists, Entrepreneurs, and Artists to Celebrate Black History Month


Black History is American History. Whether writers, poets, activists, entertainers, scientists, entrepreneurs, or some combination thereof, Black people have frequently offered exactly the right words when they were needed most. This sweeping collection of wise, stirring, and thought-provoking words from Black Americans offers much to inspire all Americans.

Featured Article 175+ of the Best Quotes from Black Authors, Activists, Entrepreneurs, and Artists to Celebrate Black History Month
Beautifully Written Memoir • Relatable Struggles • Excellent Narrator • Eye-opening History • Inspiring Passion
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I had this book in my wish list for a while and just got around to reading it. I really found out quite a bit about the author. I didn't know he had such an adventurous life, Some intentional and some not. I also have a much better understanding of the Harlem Renaissance and who a lot of the artists were during that period. Whenever that period comes up, you only typically hear of only a handful of artists. Reading the book gave me a few more things to pick out to read. Sometimes literature can be timeless because some things about society have not changed much. The way he describes interactions between the races can almost be present day. I noted the exact same thing about Ralph Ellison and James Baldwin. I understand more about what inspired him to write what he did write. And it makes me want to read even more of Mr. Hughes' work.

The only thing that through me off was the recording. The narrator was great. I felt he was able to capture a lot of the experiences and emotion. It just sounded like they put him in a closet with a slight echo.

Great Book

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Always loved his writing but his life story fills in how this literary artist became the icon he is now.

His poetry and his life story are wonderful

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This was a journey in the life of one of my favorite poets. I enjoyed getting to know the person behind the expressive, profound, and bold works he created. It seems to me that he was older than his years throughout this book. I want to praise both Arnold Rampersad and Dominic Hoffman for their dedication to this book's adaptation and performance. Well Done!!

Amazing Story

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such a beautifully written story of his life. just the way he wants to be known. the long introduction is so very necessary!

Langston Hughes was legendary 🙌🏾

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rare view of struggles with what being a minority meant and still l means. beautifully written

interesting, easy to listen to educational

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Great book. Excellent narrator! I hope he reads for all of the Langston Hughes books in Audible!

Wanting to read more Langston Hughes now.

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overall I really enjoyed the diction of the audible reader. this story has a surprising amount of relatability to the struggles and plight of people of color today.

loved this book!

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I loved listening to this book as much as I loved reading it many years ago.

Just as good

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Classic autobiography from the great poet/writer from the Harlem Renaissance era. Learned a lot about his family.

My fav poet

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If you are interested in biographies and/or writers from the Harlem Rennaissance, this is your audible. Lanston Hughes is a poet, writer, and story-teller. He tells the reader about the start of his life and how he began his writing. Great story, written by him.

Great Life! Great Writer!

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