Wright was one of the first politically and philosophically complex black authors Ellison encountered in New York…Wright’s deep-South origins and his commitment to exposing glaring racial and social injustice were attractive to the younger man.” Their relationship was not without its difficulties, however, as the two authors differed on many issues, not the least of which was their understanding of and approach to portraying African-American lives in 20th-century America. Langston Hughes had introduced Ellison to Wright’s penetrating poetry, including ‘Between the World and Me,’ which had appeared in the then-Communist literary journal Partisan Review. “Beginning in June of 1937, at Ellison’s urging, Richard Wright served as the younger writer’s intellectual and literary mentor for many years.

They are made even rarer by their original, first issue dust jackets, also in excellent condition.Įllison and Wright had a long friendship and powerful literary relationship, which began with Wright acting as a kind of guide to Ellison. As well, these particular first editions are notable and rare for being in excellent condition, with their original cloth bindings. A portrait of a young Wright can be found in the Carl Van Vechten collection of photographs and Ellison wrote several pieces for The New Masses, an American Marxist magazine, several issues of which can be found in the Radical Pamphlet collection. These acquisitions enhance Brandeis’s already strong twentieth-century American literature collection (which includes archival collections of Joseph Heller and John Cheever as well as many literary first editions) and they particularly enrich the department's collection of African-American literature.Īdditionally, the Ellison and Wright acquisitions are interesting because of their connection with several other collections held in this department. Both award-winning novels (“Native Son” won the 1941 Spingarn Medal and was named “The Most Distinguished American Novel Published Since 1939” by American Writers Congress “Invisible Man” won the 1953 National Book Award), “Native Son” and “Invisible Man” continue to be taught, read and debated to this day. Graduate Professional Studies (Online Programs)ĭescription by Surella Evanor Seelig, Archives & Special Collections Outreach Librarian.īrandeis Special Collections is proud to announce the recent acquisition of two important first editions: Richard Wright’s “Native Son” and Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man.” In these novels, Ellison and Wright delivered hugely impactful literary comments on African-American experiences in 20th-century America.

Rabb School: Graduate Professional Studies Heller School for Social Policy and Management

Richard wright native son first edition