Paul Robeson - Softcover

Eloise Greenfield is a celebrated poet and the author of more than forty books of fiction, poetry and biography for children, including the Coretta Scott King Award winner Africa Dream, The Coretta Scott King Award Honor books Mary McLeod Bethune and Childtimes: A Three Generation Memoir, co-written with her mother. Greenfield is the recipient of the Hope S. Dean Award from the Foundation for Children's Literature, and the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. She has received the Hurston/Wright Foundation's North Star Award for Lifetime Achievement, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Moonstone Celebration of Black Writing, and has an Honorary Doctor of Education Degree from Wheelock College in Boston. Greenfield has also been inducted into the International Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent. She lives in Washington, D. C.

The legendary activist, singer, and actor receives a fitting update to Greenfield's stirring 1975 biography (HarperCollins, o.p.). From his father's escape from slavery to Robeson's rise in celebrity and stature, the purposeful text highlights the monumental influences on this man's multifaceted life. Robeson's outcry against racism abroad and his subsequent struggle under McCarthyism reveal the tumultuous conditions during the Civil Rights Movement. Succinct phrases depict the public's faltering opinion of Robeson's controversial beliefs and his perseverance in the face of adversity. Vibrant, monochromatic acrylic illustrations from the original edition use shading and depth to convey tremendous emotion. Powerful movements and vivid expressions enhance the narrative. Against a rich, cream background, fluid lines convey a bold intensity. An updated afterword describes the activist's numerous posthumous accolades, including his Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. This book offers a fully developed portrayal of the man. --School Library Journal

This thoughtful biography of [Paul Robeson's] life and work has a timely appeal and provides an engaging introduction to a bygone era in American history. The text is accompanied by stark black-and-white illustrations that provide a graceful balance. --The Bloomsbury Review

Robeson's life story is well told and expertly contextualized. Greenfield explores the many difficult issues -racism, blacklisting, death of loved ones- faced by this remarkable man. Robeson's great strengths and artistic expression are also examined. The black-and-white acrylic illustrations are subtle and beautifully shaded. --The Horn Book Guide