Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise; as seen on PBS’s American Masters.Here is a book as joyous and painful; as mysterious and memorable; as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children; the brute insult of bigotry; and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Sent by their mother to live with their devout; self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town; Maya and her brother; Bailey; endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.†At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis; Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later; in San Francisco; Maya learns that love for herself; the kindness of others; her own strong spirit; and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeareâ€) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned. Poetic and powerful; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder; such a luminous dignity.â€â€”James Baldwin
#46758 in Books Olson; Lynne 2008-04-29 2008-04-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.17 x .5 x 5.60l; .95 #File Name: 0374531331464 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. As always for Olsen; EXCELLENT!!By Jim in GreenvilleAs always; Lynne Olsen has done an outstanding job of dissecting and analyzing British politics and events of the years before and during WWII. If you really thought that Churchill rose magically to prime minister after the failure of Chamberlain's appeasement approach to Hitler; read this book and you will see that it was a lot messier politics than that!! However; you will also learn the stories of all the "troublesome young men" who finally brought down the very powerful Chamberlain and paved the way for Churchill's ultimate rise to the leadership. If you are not interested in the details and all the personalities; then look for another book! But Olsen writes so well that those details are presented in a most interesting and readable style. You cannot go wrong with Lynne Olsen; especially on this period.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Events leading up to World War !! Remembered by a 90 year old woman!By Alma FoxI saw the book reviewed on C-Span. It read like Fiction and I went through it in two days! It was particularly relevant to me because I was 12 years old when the war began - I do not remember the names of all the participants except for Neville Chamberlain; Churchill and Anthony Eden. But I have a vivid memory of all the dramatic newsreels in the movie houses and the evacuation at Dunkirk. I lived in Cape Town in South Africa then and I remember the dozens of convoys of soldiers who came in to the port. Amazingly; at the time there was no security at the docks and anyone could visit the ships and were taken on board sightseeing!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good ReadBy P SavaniI have read a number of books on World War ll; but had not read about Britain and the years just prior. This book filled in a lot of gaps for me and reminded me that what seems so obvious looking back is oftern not at all obvious at the time of the event. The more history I read the more I understand the phrase that history repeats itself. The players change but the circumstances and the response to those circumstances change very little.
