Vintage Books

Baldwin understood the assignment? Do you?  A civil right leaders and iconic author, we can all learn from. Whether it's to delve in the modern classics, discover his ethos of love, or even sharpen your own skills as a writer, GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN is a must-read for students of life. 

Discover the brilliance of James Baldwin through his first novel, GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN. A story of self-discovery, grappling morality, identity, and so much more is accompanied by an insightful introduction from Roxane Gay, making it an ideal starting point for new readers.

Every revolution requires inspiration. Millions of readers worldwide have found theirs here. Lessons in Chemistry. Now in paperback.

Every revolution requires inspiration. Millions of readers worldwide have found theirs here. Lessons in Chemistry. Now in paperback.

Every revolution requires inspiration. Millions of readers worldwide have found theirs here. Lessons in Chemistry. Now in paperback.

The cover of the new deluxe edition of Giovanni’s Room features a vibrant painting by Baldwin’s friend and contemporary Beauford Delaney. The edition also has a new introduction by writer Kevin Young. Check out some of the digital-only art we commissioned Tumblr artists to create to celebrate Pride and Baldwin’s Centenary on our page, and pick up this elegant repackage of a literary classic.

He wanted to rise—a malicious, ironic voice insisted that he rise—and, at once, to leave this temple and go out into the world. He wanted to obey the voice, which was the only voice that spoke to him; he tried to assure the voice that he would do his best to rise; he would only lie here a moment, after his dreadful fall, and catch his breath. It was at this moment, precisely, that he found he could not rise; something had happened to his arms, his legs, his feet-ah, something had happened to John! And he began to scream again in his great, bewildered terror, and felt himself, indeed, begin to move—not upward, toward the light, but down again, a sickness in his bowels, a tightening in his loin-strings; he felt himself turning, again and again, across the dusty floor, as though God's toe had touched him lightly. And the dust made him cough and retch; in his turning the center of the whole earth shifted, making of space a sheer void and a mockery of order, and balance, and time. Nothing remained: all was swallowed up in chaos.”

"Giovanni had awakened an itch, had released a gnaw in me. I realized it one afternoon, when I was taking him to work via the Boulevard Montparnasse. We had bought a kilo of cherries and we were eating them as we walked along. We were both insufferably childish and high-spirited that afternoon and the spectacle we presented, two grown men jostling each other on the wide sidewalk and aiming the cherry pits, as though they were spitballs, into each other's faces, must have been outrageous. And I realized that such childishness was fantastic at my age and the happiness out of which it sprang yet more so; for that moment I really loved Giovanni, who had never seemed more beautiful than he was that afternoon. And, watching his face, I realized that it meant much to me that I could make his face so bright, I saw that I might be willing to give a great deal not to lose that power. And I felt myself flow toward him, as a river rushes when the ice breaks up. Yet, at that very moment, there passed between us on the pavement another boy, a stranger, and I invested him at once with Giovanni's beauty and what I felt for Giovanni I also felt for him. Giovanni saw this and saw my face and it made him laugh the more. I blushed and he kept laughing and then the boulevard, the light, the sound of his laughter turned into a scene from a nightmare. I kept looking at the trees, the light falling through the leaves. I felt sorrow and shame and panic and great bitterness. At the same time—it was part of my turmoil and also outside it—I felt the muscles in my neck tighten with the effort I was making not to turn my head and watch that boy diminish down the bright avenue. The beast which Giovanni had awakened in me would never go to sleep again; but one day I would not be with Giovanni anymore. And would I then, like all the others, find myself turning and following all kinds of boys down God knows what dark avenues, into what dark places? With this fearful intimation there opened in me a hatred for Giovanni which was as powerful as my love and which was nourished by the same roots." Scene art of Giovanni and David walking the Boulevard du Montparnasse created by the talented @emilypaik​. Commissioned for Tumblr by Vintage Books in celebration of the James Baldwin Centenary.

Made for Tumblr, the art is not featured on any edition of the book. 

This year marks 100 years of James Baldwin, an iconic writer and activist whose work explores the complexities of race, identity, love, and class with searing foresight. The digital-only artwork was made exclusively for Tumblr and is not featured on any purchasable edition.

This year marks 100 years of James Baldwin, an iconic writer and activist whose work explores the complexities of race, identity, love, and class with searing foresight. The digital-only artwork was made exclusively for Tumblr and is not featured on any purchasable edition.