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The Big Sea
- An Autobiography
- Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
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Publisher's Summary
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."
Featured Article: 150+ 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.
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What listeners say about The Big Sea
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Ida Earl
- 07-08-16
The Big Sea
I totally enjoyed this book. It was like reminiscing about old friends from long ago. It is a must listen.
4 people found this helpful
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- Amanda Bid
- 11-16-18
Surprisingly Adventurous
I would recommend this book to all types of readers. It is much more than a first account of history. I truly enjoied listening to every minute of it. The narration was also well done.
2 people found this helpful
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- Lemart
- 03-13-20
Great Book
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.
1 person found this helpful
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- Roxie in Dallas
- 05-02-22
interesting, easy to listen to educational
rare view of struggles with what being a minority meant and still l means. beautifully written
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- J&L Hely
- 03-06-22
Captures the times
This is a beautifully written memoir by a key literary and political figure of the 20th Century. Get the feel of the Harlem Renaissance and what it felt to be Black in America before WW II.
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- Anonymous User
- 02-20-22
Langston Hughes was legendary 🙌🏾
such a beautifully written story of his life. just the way he wants to be known. the long introduction is so very necessary!
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- Char Tarter
- 11-26-21
His poetry and his life story are wonderful
Always loved his writing but his life story fills in how this literary artist became the icon he is now.
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- ladypea
- 10-27-21
Amazing Story
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!!
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- Antoine
- 06-25-21
Just as good
I loved listening to this book as much as I loved reading it many years ago.
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- Lynette
- 04-09-21
My Eyes Have Opened Wider
I grew up knowing of Langston Hughes through my Dad but had not read The Big Sea. It really opened my eyes to the inside story of the Harlem Renaissance. I could almost visualize that day and time. I am also encouraged by how much Langston Hughes was able to do because of his passion to write even though all his life he had very little money to support this passion. This book encourages me as well as others to not give up on what your gifts are despite how difficult it may at times be to use them. The narrator does a very good job bringing the book to life and the only reason I couldn’t get five stars is because it’s not the intonation I imagine would have been Langston Hughes’.
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- Rudy Lorentz
- 04-18-17
A must read
What did you like most about The Big Sea?
Hughes' seemingly honest and vivid portrayal of his life is a must read. The way that the book centres on travel is a very interesting thread to follow, and an important example of a black man's experiences at the time
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- Mr. C. G. Moore
- 02-22-17
Slow and rambling
What disappointed you about The Big Sea?
An interesting live, told in a slow boring way. If you wanted to know what Harlem in the 20s was like then this tells you nothing. Alot of name dropping and moving from place to place. There's no plot, no characters, no description of Paris and Harlem in the 20s. One of his reviewers wrote: "Langston Hughes displays his unusual ability to say nothing in many words". I enjoyed a bit about working in Paris but that was 1h out of 10
Would you ever listen to anything by Langston Hughes and Arnold Rampersad again?
no
Which character – as performed by Dominic Hoffman – was your favourite?
Jocko the monkey was the most animated character. There were no characters
What character would you cut from The Big Sea?
Langston Hughes
Any additional comments?
To sum it up. You get no insight into the poet. It is not poetically written. It is just a list of places and menial jobs he did, people he met and occasionally poems he wrote.
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- Faduma
- 01-19-16
I love this book
This is by far my favourite boom of all time. have read it on my own but Hoffman makes a great narrator. I love Hughs simple but poetic style and his sense of adventure.