A Little Devil in America
A Little Devil in America
In Praise of Black Performance
By Hanif AbdurraqibHardback | ISBN 9780241503577
Unable to fetch in-store availability at this time. Please consider enquiring directly with your local store if the problem persists.
A celebration of Black culture beyond the white gaze, by one of America's most talked-about young cultural critics
At the March on Washington in 1963, Josephine Baker was in a mood to reflect on her life and her legacy. She had spent decades as one of the most successful entertainers the world had ever seen, but, she told the crowd, "I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too". Inspired by these words, celebrated poet and music critic Hanif Abdurraqib has written a profound meditation on Black performance in the modern age, in which culture, history and his own lived experience collide.
In prose that brims with jubilation and pain, A Little Devil in America explores a sequence of iconic and intimate performances which take Abdurraqib from mid-century Paris to the moon-and back down again, to a cramped living room in Columbus, Ohio. Each moment in each performance he examines has layers of resonance in Black and white cultures, the politics of American empire, and his own personal history of love and grief-whether it's the twenty-seven seconds of 'Gimme Shelter' in which Merry Clayton sings, or the magnificent hours of Aretha Franklin's homegoing; Beyonce's Super Bowl half-time show or a schoolyard fistfight; Dave Chapelle's skits or a game of spades among friends.
Infused with the lyricism and rhythm of the musicians Abdurraqib loves, and richly textured with compassion and humour, A Little Devil in America is a unique exaltation of Black performances, cultures and communities.
GIFT WRAPPING
GIFT WRAPPING
Gift Wrapping available. Select the Gift Wrap option in your cart prior to checkout.
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK DETAILS
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780241503577
Publish/Release date:
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Number of pages: 320
Width (mm): 144
Height (mm): 222
Depth (mm): 31
Share this product
![A Little Devil in America](http://www.harryhartog.com.au/cdn/shop/products/9780241503577.jpg?v=1662047286&width=1445)
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Australian National University. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Bondi Junction. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Burnside Village. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Carindale. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Green Hills. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Kotara. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Macquarie. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Maroochydore. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Marrickville. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Miranda. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Narellan. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Penrith. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Top Ryde. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Tuggeranong. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Warringah. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Reserve and collect
You are reserving this item at Harry Hartog Woden. Reservations are held for 24 hours.
We will contact you to let you know when the item is ready to collect.
Gift Vouchers and Curated Book Recommendations
-
Harry Hartog Gift Voucher
Regular price From $30.00 AUDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Bibliotonic For Youths
Regular price $75.00 AUDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Children's Book Subscription
Regular price From $110.00 AUDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Harry Hartog Book Subscription
Regular price From $138.00 AUDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Harry Hartog Cookbook Subscription
Regular price From $200.00 AUDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Bibliotonic For Adults
Regular price $150.00 AUDRegular priceUnit price / per
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Opens in a new window.