James Baldwin on Writing, Exile, and Confronting Identity: The Paris Review Interview
By
Interviewed by Jordan Elgrably
Summary
An interview with James Baldwin conducted in Paris and London, exploring his life as a writer, his relationship with America, and his literary career. Baldwin discusses his early years in Paris where he wrote his first two novels and collection of essays, and how the city helped him confront his identity and his connection to America. The interview captures Baldwin's reflections on race, art, and the writer's struggle.
Source
Twitter / XJames Baldwin on Writing, Exile, and Confronting Identity: The Paris Review Interviewbuff.lyKey quotes
· 3 pulledAfter my best friend jumped off the bridge, I knew that I was next. So—Paris. With forty dollars and a one-way ticket.
It was in Paris that he was first able to come to grips with his explosive relationship with himself and America.
This interview was conducted in the two places dearest to James Baldwin's struggle as a writer.
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