Ralph Ellison: A Biography

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The first scholar to be given complete access to Ralph Ellison's papers provides a glimpse not only into the events of Ellison's life, but also into the complex inner makeup of the man--a magisterial biography of the writer and his times.

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Publisher’s Weekly (03/05/2007)
Rampersad's new biography sweeps every cobweb out of every nook and cranny of the life of Ralph Ellison (1913-1994), author of one of the seminal works of 20th-century fiction,Invisible Man . Rampersad, a professor of humanities at Stanford and biographer of Langston Hughes, was given unprecedented access to Ellison's extensive correspondence, and it shows: he seems to leave nothing out, including every cold Ellison ever came down with, though the details often add nothing to the developing portrait. The details will make this the definitive biography for now, but work remains to be done, because Rampersad fails to address the lasting question of Ellison's legacy: why he could never produce a second novel in his lifetime. (The biographer doesn't cover the posthumous publication of Ellison's unfinishedJuneteenth. ) Ellison never truly embraced the Civil Rights movement, quietly supporting the fight from afar while maintaining that his writing would represent his contribution to the cause. Still, Rampersad does plot how Ellison drew on his experiences in Jim Crow America to produce his groundbreaking novel. He reveals Ellison to have been prickly, short-tempered, self-absorbed and chronically bad to women, but also charming enough to win over influential people. Rampersad provides a wealth of material about Ellison, but synthesizing it all will be up to readers to do for themselves. 24 pages of photos.40,000 first printing. (Apr.)

Library Journal (04/01/2007)
In this comprehensive biography, Rampersad (humanities, Stanford Univ.;Jackie Robinson: A Biography ) provides a fantastic account of one of the most renowned authors of the 20th century, examining both his writings and their historical importance. Ralph Ellison (1913-94) spent seven long years working on the literary masterpieceInvisible Man , which explored humankind's search for identity and place in society and which won Ellison international acclaim and the 1952 National Book Award, among other accolades. Rampersad suggests that Ellison's intent was to incorporate blacks into history through this novel, which he wanted to become a great work of art. His insight into Ellison's life provides readers with a deep knowledge of the man, his work, and the time period. Written in thorough detail and with great passion, this is is recommended for public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert,LJ 12/06.]-Susan McClellan, Avalon P.L., Pittsburgh

ISBN: 0375408274 | EAN: 9780375408274
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group  | Publication Date: April, 2007

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