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Giovanni's Room

By James Baldwin
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin is a poignant exploration of identity and forbidden love set against the backdrop of 1950s Paris. The novel follows an American expatriate, David, as he grapples with his sexual identity and the societal expectations imposed on him. His complex relationship with Giovanni—a charming Italian bartender—forces him to confront his deepest desires and fears in a world that feels both liberating and confining.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin might captivate you if you're drawn to stories that deeply explore themes of identity, love, and societal expectations. This novel offers a poignant examination of complex relationships and personal struggles set against the evocative backdrop of 1950s Paris. If you appreciate thought-provoking narratives that challenge conventional ideas about sexuality and self-acceptance, this book will likely resonate with you.

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Giovanni's Room

Set in the 1950s Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, this title presents a story of a fated love triangle that explores the conflicts between desire, conventional morality and sexual identity.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Considered an audacious second novel, Giovanni's Room is set in the 1950s Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence.

This now-classic story of a fated love triangle explores, with uncompromising clarity, the conflicts between desire, conventional morality and sexual identity.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin is praised for its deep emotional complexity and intimate exploration of themes. Critics note its unflinching examination of love entangled with shame, paradox, and societal constraints. Highlighting Baldwin's bold narrative and elegant prose, reviewers commend the novel's candid portrayal of the challenges in achieving genuine connection free from societal burdens.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141186351

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 October 2001

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Caryl Phillips

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 135g

Pages: 176

Collections

Fiction General Fiction James Baldwin Literary Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Born in Harlem in 1924, Baldwin had an early career as a teenage preacher. He lived in Paris from 1948-1956 and his first novels, the autobiographical GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN and GIOVANNI'S ROOM established him as a promising novelist and anticipated some of the themes of his later works, such as racism and sexuality. He became a prominent spokesperson for racial equality, especially during the civil rights movement. He lived in France during his last years. Baldwin died in 1987.

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