The Essays of Ralph Ellison (Masterplots II: African American Literature Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Ralph Ellison
- First Published: 1964
- Type of Work: Essays
- Genres: Nonfiction, Essays
- Subjects: African Americans, Culture, Freedom, Race, Music or musicians, Literature, Writing, Criticism, Creative process, Folklore, Jazz music
Despite his relatively few major works, Ralph Waldo Ellison stands as one of the most influential modern African American writers and cultural critics. Ellison published one novel, Invisible Man (1952), and two essay collections, along with a number of uncollected essays, speeches, and reviews; he also labored for decades on a second novel that remained unfinished at the time of his death. As an essayist and critic, Ellison held to an optimistic view of the possibilities of American life, celebrated African American cultural contributions, especially in jazz and blues, and...
[The entire page is 3104 words long]
