Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone

Leo Proudhammer, a celebrated Black stage actor, collapses during a performance and begins to reflect on the life that brought him there—from his Harlem childhood to his political awakening, and from his early loves to the complex relationships that have shaped him. Through his bond with Barbara, a white actress, and Christopher, a younger Black man, Baldwin examines art, race, sexuality, and the price of living authentically in a turbulent America. Lyrical, unflinching, and deeply human, this novel is both a love story and a political meditation.

~ Included for its groundbreaking exploration of bisexuality, race, and queer identity within Baldwin’s signature blend of intimacy and social critique. A fearless, multifaceted work from one of America’s greatest writers. ~