Langston Hughes' Fields of Wonder Signed First Edition, 1947

HUGHES, Langston

Publication Date: 1947

About this Item

HUGHES, Langston. Fields of Wonder. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947. First edition. Signed by Langston Hughes on the front free endpaper, with the inscription "Sincerely Langston Hughes" beneath the previous owner s name, Charlene B. Johnson. Original teal cloth boards in the publisher s printed dust jacket, price-clipped at $2.50. 114 pages. 8vo. A scarce signed copy of Hughes major postwar poetry collection, issued during the height of his literary fame and reflecting his broadened internationalist perspective shaped by recent travels to Mexico, Spain, Russia, and the American South. Fields of Wonder marked a significant return to verse for Hughes after years focused on drama and autobiography, offering a deeply personal and lyrical exploration of race, war, and human resilience in the face of injustice. The poems reflect Hughes mature voice as both witness and participant in global Black struggles for dignity, freedom, and joy. With lines such as "I do not need my freedom when I m dead," Hughes affirms the urgency of liberation, while pieces like "Johannesburg Mines" connect African American experiences to the Black diaspora. The book also highlights Hughes' evolving lyricism, merging folk rhythms with political clarity. It is one of his lesser printed but thematically powerful collections, praised for its introspection and global conscience. The volume is in very good condition, with sound hinges and clean text block. The top fore edge retains its original yellow stain. Dust jacket shows light chipping and wear along the edges and crown, particularly at the spine, white paper and mylar has been added to preserve the condition of the dust jacket. Overall very good condition. An important and uncommon signed first edition by one of the defining voices of 20th-century American poetry.

Seller Inventory # 22209

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Langston Hughes' Fields of Wonder Signed First Edition, 1947
• Publication Date: 1947
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • First Editions, Signed or Rare Books
  • Poetry
  • Exceptional Pieces
  • African American