Blues for Mister Charlie

Book cover of Blues for Mister Charlie: A Play

Book description

An award-winning play from one of America’s most brilliant writers about a murder in a small Southern town, loosely based on the 1955 killing of Emmett Till. • "A play with fires of fury in its belly, tears of anguish in its eyes, a roar of protest in its throat."…

Explore

Topics

Genres

Coming soon!

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Blues for Mister Charlie as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Alex Bernstein

Author

This past summer, I was stunned to discover the blistering and unapologetic Blues for Mister Charlie by James Baldwin.

The play revolves around mounting racial tensions in a small Southern town in the late 1950s after a white shopkeeper is accused of murdering a young, black college student, evoking the real-life murder of Emmett Till. However, Baldwin paints a nuanced picture by balancing the lives of the accused perpetrator alongside the victim, Richard, a troubled addict, prone to inciting violence.

Of course, this incendiary story feels as relevant today as during the civil rights era when it was written. What…

From Alex's 3 favorite reads in 2023.