Ralph Ellison
American novelist whose Invisible Man is one of the great American novels, a searing account of the African American experience. He published only one novel in his lifetime, though posthumous work has expanded his legacy. His influence on African American literature is incalculable.
Works
- Invisible ManNovel following a nameless Black man's search for identity and acceptance in American society
- Shadow and ActEssay collection examining jazz, literature, and African American identity and culture
- Going to the TerritoryEssay collection exploring African American experience, literature, and cultural politics
- JuneteenthNovel celebrating African American musical and cultural traditions through extended meditation
- Three Days Before the ShootingUnfinished novel exploring a writer's attempts to understand American identity and violence
- Flying Home and Other StoriesStory collection exploring African American experience through varied narrative perspectives
- The Collected Essays of Ralph EllisonEssay collection of Ellison's criticism on culture, literature, and social commentary