signed first edition
by HUGHES, Langston
HUGHES, Langston. Tambourines to Glory. New York: The John Day Company, 1958. First Edition. Inscribed by the author on front free end paper; "Especially for John and Peggy--on my first visit to your home today--Sincerely, Langston--Monterey, December 11, 1958." 188 pages. 8vo. Original black cloth boards and yellow pictorial dust jacket with photo of the author en verso, mylar wrapping. Tambourines to Glory is the second of Hughes two novels following Not without Laughter which was published 38 years earlier. Originally a gospel play written by Hughes in 1956, he later adapted into a novel. The play went live on Broadway in 1963. Tambourines to Glory is a story of a group of unlikely characters beginning with two female street preachers who open up a street corner church. With conflicting morale, the characters battle with temptation, love, friendship and struggle in this humorous tale. Langston Hughes said of this novel; "Tambourines to Glory is an urban folk tale set against a background of colorful independent, unorthodox churches which have sprung up all over Harlem in the last decade. It is in no sense an attack on organized religion, or on cults as such, but is a fictional expose of certain ways in which religion is misused in large city communities today by various types of unscrupulous leaders who might be called 'gospel racketeers,' preying upon the gullibility of simple people." Some minor edge wear to dust jacket. Not price clipped. Pages and text are crisp and clean. Overall very good condition. The novel is rich with the spoken and sung voices of the African American community of Harlem, and derives its humor from the lively scoundrels who twist religion and morals for their own earthly gain.
(Inventory #: 20638)