Dancing in the Dark.* Dancing in the Dark by Caryl Phillips Caryl Phillips (born 13 March 1958) is a British writer with a Caribbean background, best known as a novelist. He is now professor at Yale University and a visiting professor at Barnard College of Columbia University. He was born on St. Knopf, September 2005 $23.95, ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 1-400-04396-4 In this follow-up to his award-winning novel A Distant Shore, Caryl Phillips shows once again the depth of insight into personal and societal complexities that makes him one of the greatest novelists of our time. In this work of historical fiction, Phillips condenses the little-known story of Bert Williams
Bert Williams (November 12, 1874 – March 4, 1922) was the pre-eminent Black entertainer of his era and one of the most popular (1874-1922), a Bahamian immigrant who became the first black entertainer in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to reach the highest levels of fame and fortune. The author portrays a man whose claim to fame was arguably ar·gu·a·ble adj. 1. Open to argument: an arguable question, still unresolved. 2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law. a mockery of his own existence and that of his race. In Phillips's hands, Williams's story takes on a resonance that is at once heartbreaking heart·break·ing adj. 1. Causing overwhelming grief or distress. 2. Producing a strong emotional reaction: heartbreaking loveliness. and enlightening, individual and public. When his family leaves the Bahamas for a "better life" in the United States, Bert, then 11 years old, is torn from the warmth of the beaches he knows and is thrust into the cold realities of a land he is forced to adopt. Soon "Bert begins to learn the role that America has set aside for him to play." He traverses his new world, wending his way in and out of minor theatrical ventures until he teams up with George Walker George Walker may refer to: In arts and letters:
Together, they eventually become headlined as "Two Real Coons" and challenge the sensibilities of America's theatergoing world. It is Williams's decision to don blackface and perfect the stage role of the shuffling, befuddled Negro, which earns him his singular recognition, while alienating him from colleagues, friends, family and even himself. Williams's reasons for using his art to disarm white audiences and ultimately transcend stereotypes become the prism through which the author, with great sensitivity and candor, highlights the debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction conflict between the man and the mask. In so doing, Phillips casts not only Williams but also Walker, their wives, Williams's father and others in their roles in the broader context of struggles surrounding race and identity. The story unfolds in the form of a three-act play. Dancing in the Dark becomes a metaphor for a life lived behind veils of uncertainty, shame, anonymity and ambiguity. Williams's struggle is palpable. The image of darkness surfaces throughout the novel, but is strongest in Act Three, where, even as Williams is swallowed up by the ultimate darkness, death, he is enlightened. With Dancing in the Dark, Phillips has given readers a superb narrative and yet another mirror to our individual and collective souls. Denolyn Carroll is deputy managing editor at Essence magazine. |
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