Native Son

Wright, Richard (1908-1960)

Published by First Edition Library, Norwalk, CT, 1968

About this Item

A LANDMARK OF TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN LITERATURE Richard Wright's Native Son is one of the most important and influential American novels of the twentieth century. Published in 1940, it introduced millions of readers to Bigger Thomas, a young Black man navigating poverty, racial oppression, and limited opportunity in segregated Chicago. The novel was immediately recognized as a major literary event, becoming a Book-of-the-Month Club selection and bringing Wright international attention. Its unflinching portrayal of social conditions, psychological conflict, and systemic injustice established Wright as a central figure in African American literature and the broader tradition of American realism. First Edition Library Edition - Facsimile of the First Edition. Hardcover in Slipcase. Originally published by Harper & Brothers in 1940. A Fine Hardcover in a Fine Dust Jacket. A new, giftable facsimile edition preserving the appearance and presentation of the landmark first edition. Housed in the publisher's slipcase. Slipcase measures approximately 8.75 inches tall. LITERARY SIGNIFICANCE - A NOVEL THAT CHANGED AMERICAN CONVERSATION. Through the story of Bigger Thomas, Wright examined how environment, fear, violence, and social structures shape individual lives. Native Son challenged readers to confront the realities of racial inequality and remains a foundational text in discussions of American identity, race, and justice. The novel influenced generations of writers, scholars, and activists, and its themes continue to resonate in contemporary conversations about society and power. ABOUT THE AUTHOR - THE WRITER WHO CHALLENGED AMERICA TO LOOK WITHIN. Richard Wright was born in Mississippi in 1908 and became one of the defining voices of twentieth-century American literature. His early collection Uncle Tom's Children (1938) established his reputation, while Native Son brought him worldwide recognition. Wright's later works, including Black Boy (1945), continued his exploration of race, identity, and the struggle for personal freedom. A major figure of the Chicago Black Renaissance and a leading voice in African American letters, Wright's writing helped shape the development of modern American literature. GENRES / SUBJECTS - American Literature, African American Literature, Modern Classics, Social Fiction, Literary Fiction, Race and Identity, Twentieth-Century Literature, Richard Wright, Chicago Literature.

Seller Inventory # 22225

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Native Son
• Publisher: First Edition Library, Norwalk, CT
• Publication Date: 1968
• Condition: Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine
• Weight: 3 pounds
• Seller catalogs:
  • LITERATURE [Many Sub-Catagories]
  • AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES