The best of Simple / by Langston Hughes ; illustrated by Bernhard Nast.

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A selection of the author's favorite stories chosen from three of his books: "Simple Speaks his Mind," "Simple Takes a Wife," and "Simple Stakes a Claim."

Bibliographic Details
Uniform Title:American century series ; AC39.
Jack and Susan Davis Rare Book Collection.
Main Author: Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967
Other Authors: Nast, Bernhard, 1924-2001 (Illustrator)
Language:English
Published: New York : Hill and Wang, 1961.
Edition:First American century series edition.
Series:American century series ; AC39.
Jack and Susan Davis Rare Book Collection.
Subjects:
Simple (Fictitious character) > Fiction.
African American men > Fiction.
Short stories.
Genre:
Fiction.
Short stories.
Ownership and Custodial History:
Copy 4: Material laid in: Publisher's press release for this book.
MSU: Copy 4 Laid-in material transferred to MSS 466 Box 5 File 178
Local Note:
MSU: Copy 4 gift of Jack and Susan Davis.
MSU: Copy 4 in dust jacket.
Physical Description:245 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm.
Format: Book
Contents:
  • Foreword : Who is Simple?
  • Feet live their own life
  • Landladies
  • Simple prays a prayer
  • Conversation on the corner
  • Simple on Indian blood
  • A toast to Harlem
  • Simple and his sins
  • Temptation
  • Wooing the muse
  • Vacation
  • Letting off steam
  • Jealousy
  • Banquet in honor
  • A veteran falls
  • High bed
  • Final fear
  • There ought to be a law
  • Income tax
  • No alternative
  • Springtime
  • Last whipping
  • Seeing double
  • Simple on military integration
  • Blue evening
  • A letter from Baltimore
  • Seven rings
  • What can a man say?
  • Empty room
  • Picture for her dresser
  • Cocktail sip
  • Apple strudel
  • Bop
  • Formals and funerals
  • Fancy free
  • Midsummer madness
  • Morals is her middle name
  • They come and they go
  • A million : and one
  • Two loving arms
  • Kick for punt
  • Subway to Jamaica
  • No tea for the fever
  • Boys, birds, and bees
  • On the warpath
  • A hearty amen
  • Must have a seal
  • Shadow of the blues
  • Once in a wife-time
  • Present for Joyce
  • Christmas song
  • Tied in a bow
  • Sometimes I wonder
  • Four rings
  • Simply love
  • Bang-up big end
  • Duty is not snooty
  • Bones, bombs, chicken necks
  • A dog named Trilby
  • Enter Cousin Minnie
  • Radioactive red caps
  • Two sides not enough
  • Puerto Ricans
  • Minnie again
  • Vicious circle
  • Again Cousin Minnie
  • Name in print
  • Minnie one more time
  • An auto-obituary
  • Jazz, jive, and jam.