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For the first time in many years, Langston Hughes's published collections of stories are now available in a single book. Included in this volume are: Ways of White Folks, originally published in 1934; Laughing to Keep from Crying, originally published in 1952; and additional stories from Something in Common and Other Stories, originally published in 1963; as well as previously uncollected stories. These fictions, carefully crafted in the language Hughes loved, manifest the many themes for which he is best known. We meet and come to know many characters--black and white, young and old, men and women & mdash;all as believable as our own families, friends, and acquaintances. Hughes's stories portray people as they actually are: a mixture of good, bad, and much in-between. In these short stories, as in the Simple stories, the reader enjoys Hughes's humor and irony. The stories show us his inclination to mock himself and his beloved people, as much as he ridicules the flaws of those who belittle his race. His genuine characters interact and realistically bring to life this era of America's past. By maintaining the form and format of the original story collections, this volume presents Hughes's stories as he wanted them to be read. This volume will be an invaluable addition to the library of anyone interested in African American literature generally and the fiction of Langston Hughes specifically THE WAYS OF WHITE FOLKS(1934):Cora unashamed --Slave on the block --Home --Passing --A good job done --Rejuvenation through joy --The blues I'm playing --Red-headed baby --Poor little Black fellow --Little dog --Berry --Mother and child --One Christmas Eve --Father and son --LAUGHING TO KEEP FROM CRYING(1952):Who's passing for who? --Something in common --African morning --Pushcart man --Why, you reckon? --Saratoga rain --Spanish blood --Heaven to hell --Sailor ashore --Slice him down --Tain't so --One Friday morning --Professor --Name in the papers --Powder-white faces --Rouge high --On the way home --Mysterious Madam Shanghai --Never room with a couple --Little old spy --Tragedy at the baths --Trouble with the angels --On the road --Big meeting --SOMETHING IN COMMON AND OTHER STORIES(1963):Thank you, M'am --Little dog --Rock, church --Little old spy --A good job gone --Who's passing for who? --African morning --Pushcart man --Why, you reckon? --Saratoga rain --Spanish blood --Gumption --Heaven to hell --Sailor ashore --Slice him down --His last affair --Tain't so --Father and son --Professor --Sorrow for a midget --Powder-white faces --Rough high --The gun --Fine accommodations --No place to make love --On the way home --Mysterious Madam Shanghai --Patron of the arts --Early Autumn --Never room with a couple --Tragedy at the baths --Trouble with the angels --On the road --Big meeting --Breakfast in Virginia --Blessed assurance --Something in common --UNCOLLECTED STORIES:Mary Winosky --Those who have no turkey --Seventy-five dollars --Bodies in the moonlight --The childhood of Jimmy --The young glory of him --The little virgin --Luani of the jungles.
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