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Another Country (novel)
Encyclopedia
Another Country is a 1962 novel
by James Baldwin
. The novel tells of the bohemian
lifestyle of musicians, writers and other artists living in Greenwich Village
in the late 1950s. It portrayed many taboo
themes such as bisexuality
, interracial couples and extramarital affairs
.
drummer Rufus Scott. Rufus begins a relationship with Leona, a white woman from the South and introduces her to his friends, including the struggling novelist Vivaldo, his more successful mentor Richard and Richard's wife Cass. Although the relationship is initially frivolous, it becomes serious and the two leave town for several weeks. Rufus is abusive towards Leona and she is eventually committed to a mental hospital and Rufus returns to Harlem in a deep depression
. He commits suicide
by jumping off the George Washington Bridge
.
Rufus' friends cannot understand his suicide, but afterwards they become closer and Vivaldo begins a relationship with Rufus’ sister Ida, which is strained by racial tension and Ida's bitterness after her brother's death.
Eric, Rufus's first male lover and an actor, returns to New York
after a stay in France where he met his longtime lover Yves. Eric returns to the novel's social circle but is more calm and composed than most of the clique. He also begins an affair with Cass, who has become lonely due to Richard's dedication to writing.
. He refuses to admit his attraction to Rufus. On the night of his death, Rufus went to Vivaldo and indicated a need for sexual love but Vivaldo pretended not to recognize this need and later feels guilty, suspecting that he could have prevented Rufus’ death. He also does not see that his attraction to Ida mirrors his attraction to Rufus.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Eric is the novel's most honest and open character. He admits that Rufus was an abusive person, that his affair with Cass is frivolous and that his love of Yves is genuine. This also makes him the book's most calm and composed character and, only after a night with Eric, does Vivaldo see the world clearly.
Most of the white characters in the book refuse to admit the racial tension surrounding them. Cass and Richard are shocked when a group of black boys beat-up their sons. Ida constantly accuses Vivaldo of taking their relationship less seriously because she is black and has known white men who get a thrill out of sex with black women. Vivaldo refuses to admit any of this, although it is indicated that it may be true of their relationship.
Also, Ida's success as a jazz singer causes increased tension between her and Vivaldo.
in 1948 and only completed it in Istanbul
in 1962 - he had been working on it while in Paris in the 1950s.
It was listed by Anthony Burgess
as one of his Ninety-nine Novels: The best in English since 1939
.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by James Baldwin
James Baldwin (writer)
James Arthur Baldwin was an American novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and social critic.Baldwin's essays, for instance "Notes of a Native Son" , explore palpable yet unspoken intricacies of racial, sexual, and class distinctions in Western societies, most notably in mid-20th century America,...
. The novel tells of the bohemian
Bohemianism
Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic or literary pursuits...
lifestyle of musicians, writers and other artists living in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
in the late 1950s. It portrayed many taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
themes such as bisexuality
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
, interracial couples and extramarital affairs
Infidelity
In many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
.
Plot summary
The first fifth of Another Country tells of the downfall of jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
drummer Rufus Scott. Rufus begins a relationship with Leona, a white woman from the South and introduces her to his friends, including the struggling novelist Vivaldo, his more successful mentor Richard and Richard's wife Cass. Although the relationship is initially frivolous, it becomes serious and the two leave town for several weeks. Rufus is abusive towards Leona and she is eventually committed to a mental hospital and Rufus returns to Harlem in a deep depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
. He commits suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by jumping off the George Washington Bridge
George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the Washington Heights neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City to Fort Lee, Bergen County, New Jersey. Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1/9 cross the river via the bridge. U.S...
.
Rufus' friends cannot understand his suicide, but afterwards they become closer and Vivaldo begins a relationship with Rufus’ sister Ida, which is strained by racial tension and Ida's bitterness after her brother's death.
Eric, Rufus's first male lover and an actor, returns to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after a stay in France where he met his longtime lover Yves. Eric returns to the novel's social circle but is more calm and composed than most of the clique. He also begins an affair with Cass, who has become lonely due to Richard's dedication to writing.
Willing Ignorance
One of the most significant themes in Another Country is one's willingness to ignore parts of reality that he or she finds unpleasant. Vivaldo is perhaps the most affected by this tendency. He also denies his own bisexualityThe Closet
The Closet may refer to:* The Closet , Chinese film* The Closet , French film* The closet, referring to undisclosed homosexuality- See also :* Closet* Closet * In the closet...
. He refuses to admit his attraction to Rufus. On the night of his death, Rufus went to Vivaldo and indicated a need for sexual love but Vivaldo pretended not to recognize this need and later feels guilty, suspecting that he could have prevented Rufus’ death. He also does not see that his attraction to Ida mirrors his attraction to Rufus.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Eric is the novel's most honest and open character. He admits that Rufus was an abusive person, that his affair with Cass is frivolous and that his love of Yves is genuine. This also makes him the book's most calm and composed character and, only after a night with Eric, does Vivaldo see the world clearly.
Most of the white characters in the book refuse to admit the racial tension surrounding them. Cass and Richard are shocked when a group of black boys beat-up their sons. Ida constantly accuses Vivaldo of taking their relationship less seriously because she is black and has known white men who get a thrill out of sex with black women. Vivaldo refuses to admit any of this, although it is indicated that it may be true of their relationship.
Professional Jealousy
Richard and Vivaldo are jealous of one another. Vivaldo is jealous that Richard's novel is being published while Richard is jealous of Vivaldo because Richard sees suffering and a lack of commercial success as a sign of artistic integrity. Consequently, when Cass resumes her affair with Eric, Richard suspects she is seeing Vivaldo.Also, Ida's success as a jazz singer causes increased tension between her and Vivaldo.
Background information
Baldwin started writing Another Country in Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
in 1948 and only completed it in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
in 1962 - he had been working on it while in Paris in the 1950s.
Literary significance and criticism
It has been argued that James Baldwin is in three characters : Rufus as Baldwin would have turned out had he not moved to France, Eric as Baldwin was in Paris, and Vivaldo as a writer struggling with a writer's block because of his love affairs, in the manner of Baldwin himself.It was listed by Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess
John Burgess Wilson – who published under the pen name Anthony Burgess – was an English author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator and critic. The dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange is Burgess's most famous novel, though he dismissed it as one of his lesser works...
as one of his Ninety-nine Novels: The best in English since 1939
Ninety-nine Novels
Anthony Burgess's book Ninety-Nine Novels: The Best in English since 1939 — A Personal Choice covers a 44-year span between 1939 and 1983. Burgess was a prolific reader, in his early career reviewing more than 350 novels in just over two years for the Yorkshire Post...
.