New Books in Literary Studies Bill V. Mullen, "James Baldwin: Living in Fire" (Pluto Press, 2019)
Oct 19, 2025
Bill V. Mullen, Professor at Purdue University and author of *James Baldwin: Living in Fire*, examines the pivotal life of the iconic writer. He highlights Baldwin’s tough childhood and the vital influence of his teacher. Mullen discusses Baldwin's exile, his observations in Turkey and Israel, and the connections to Palestinian struggles. The conversation also touches on Baldwin's critiques of capitalism and his shifting relationship with Malcolm X, reflecting on his enduring legacy in the context of today's movements like Black Lives Matter.
59:58
Teacher Who Opened Baldwin's World
- James Baldwin credited his teacher Arilla Miller with changing his life by recognizing his intellect and expanding his world.
- Miller's encouragement to read, attend theater, and explore led Baldwin to lifelong literary ambition and interracial empathy.
Religion, Sexuality, And Prophetic Politics
- Baldwin's break with the church intertwined with his sexual identity and doubts about Christianity's moral authority.
- The Fire Next Time links his religious critique to a prophetic warning about racial violence in America.
Exile Shaped Baldwin's Perspective
- Baldwin left the U.S. for Paris in 1948 to escape racism and commit to writing, later spending long periods in Istanbul where he found anonymity and sexual freedom.
- He drafted major works abroad and said exile helped him see the United States more clearly.
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Intro
00:00 • 2min
Mullen's background and why he wrote Baldwin biography
02:09 • 5min
Baldwin's childhood and teacher influence
07:00 • 4min
Baldwin's religious journey and The Fire Next Time
11:20 • 6min
Why Baldwin left the U.S. and his time in Turkey
16:50 • 9min
Baldwin's visit to Israel and solidarity with Palestinians
26:01 • 8min
Parallels between Baldwin and Ghassan Kanafani
33:39 • 5min
Baldwin's critique of capitalism and socialism
38:18 • 8min
Baldwin and Malcolm X: disagreement and later reassessment
45:52 • 3min
Baldwin's legacy and later rediscovery
48:44 • 7min
Recommended Baldwin readings and media for students
55:33 • 5min
Outro
01:00:39 • 50sec
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Go Tell Down the Mountain
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James Baldwin
Go Tell It on the Mountain, published in 1953, is a semi-autobiographical novel that explores the themes of religion, family, and racial identity in the life of John Grimes, a young African American boy growing up in Harlem in the 1930s.
The novel delves into the complex dynamics of John's family, particularly his strained relationship with his stepfather, Gabriel, a stern and oppressive preacher.
Baldwin masterfully portrays the emotional and spiritual struggles of his characters, using vivid and lyrical prose to capture the nuances of their experiences.
Through John's journey, Baldwin examines the impact of religious fervor and the search for self-discovery in a world marked by racism and poverty.
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The Erotics of Exile
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Magdalena Zaboraska
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Tell me how long the train's been gone
James Baldwin
Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone is James Baldwin's fourth novel, published in 1968.
The story revolves around Leo Proudhammer, an African-American actor who reflects on his life after a heart attack.
The novel explores themes of racial identity, bisexuality, and the struggle for racial justice in America.
Through Leo's experiences, Baldwin delves into the complexities of navigating a predominantly white society as a Black man.
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James Baldwin, Living in Fire
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Bill V. Mullen
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• Mentioned in 2 episodes
No Name in the Street
James Baldwin
No Name in the Street is a nonfiction book by James Baldwin, published in 1972.
It recounts his experiences with racism, from his childhood in Harlem to his involvement in the Civil Rights movement, including his friendships with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The book also explores his time in France and his observations on the Algerian War of Independence, drawing parallels between racial struggles in different contexts.
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• Mentioned in 16 episodes
The fire next time
James Baldwin
The Fire Next Time is a deeply personal and provocative document that consists of two letters.
The first letter is to Baldwin's 14-year-old nephew, warning him about the harsh realities of being Black in America and advising him to affirm his own worth and dignity.
The second letter is a broader critique of American society, particularly targeting the failure of the Christian church to provide moral leadership and the societal tendency to perpetuate racial myths.
Baldwin argues that white Americans maintain these myths to avoid facing their own inadequacies and moral wrongdoings.
He emphasizes the need for love and acceptance to overcome these barriers and warns of a violent reckoning if racial inequality is not addressed.
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• Mentioned in 3 episodes
If Beale Street Could Talk
James Baldwin
The novel tells the story of Tish, a 19-year-old Black woman, and her lover Fonny, a young sculptor who is falsely accused of rape.
The narrative explores the struggles of their families as they work to clear Fonny's name, highlighting the pervasive racism and injustice faced by Black Americans in the 1970s.
Through Tish's perspective, the book delves into themes of love, family, community, and the systemic injustices that shape their lives.
Baldwin's writing vividly portrays the emotional and social complexities of the characters, making the story both poignant and powerful.
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• Mentioned in 12 episodes
Black Marxism
The Making of the Black Radical Tradition
Cedric J. Robinson
In this book, Cedric Robinson critiques Marxism and its reliance on determinism, introducing the theory of racial capitalism and tracing the roots of Black radical thought.
The book is divided into three parts: 'The Emergence and Limitations of European Radicalism', 'The Roots of Black Radicalism', and 'Black Radicalism and Marxist Theory'.
Robinson argues that all capitalism is structured by racialism, producing inequalities among groups, and he examines the lives and works of key Black radical thinkers such as W. E. B. Du Bois, C. L. R. James, and Richard Wright.
The book challenges traditional Marxist and European historiography, highlighting the significance of Black resistance and the Black radical tradition in understanding modernity, nationalism, and capitalism.
#11676
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
Another Country
James Baldwin
Published in 1962, 'Another Country' by James Baldwin is a profound exploration of love, identity, and societal walls.
The novel is set predominantly in Greenwich Village, Harlem, and France and revolves around the lives of a group of intertwined characters.
At the heart of the tale is Rufus Scott, a black jazz musician, whose tragic death sets off a chain of events that forces his friends to search for the meaning of his death and to understand their own identities.
The novel employs a loose, episodic structure and is known for its frank portrayal of bisexuality, homosexuality, and interracial relationships, which were taboo subjects at the time of its release.
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• Mentioned in 30 episodes
Oliver Twist
The 1838 Theatrical Adaptation
George Almar
This adaptation was first performed in the fall of 1838, before the full text of Dickens' original novel had been released.
It is a serio-comic burletta that deviates from the original novel, and Dickens himself was reportedly horrified by the performance.
The adaptation highlights the theatrical interpretation of Dickens' work during the Victorian era.
#910
• Mentioned in 29 episodes
David Copperfield
Paul Lorain
Charles Dickens
A classic novel by Charles Dickens, following the life of David Copperfield from childhood to adulthood.
#787
• Mentioned in 32 episodes
Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates
Between the World and Me is a personal and literary exploration of America's racial history.
Written as a series of letters to his 15-year-old son, Samori, Ta-Nehisi Coates reflects on his own experiences growing up in Baltimore, his education at Howard University, and his career as a journalist.
The book delves into the realities of being Black in America, including the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery, segregation, police brutality, and mass incarceration.
Coates shares personal anecdotes and historical insights to prepare his son for the challenges he will face as a Black man in America, while also offering a broader critique of American society and its treatment of Black bodies.
The book is a powerful and emotional exploration of identity, history, and the struggle for racial justice.
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• Mentioned in 11 episodes
Giovanni's Room
James Baldwin
Published in 1956, 'Giovanni's Room' is a groundbreaking novel by James Baldwin that delves into the life of David, a young American expatriate in Paris.
David is caught between his desire for Giovanni, an Italian bartender, and his engagement to Hella, an American woman.
The novel explores themes of love, shame, guilt, and the internal conflicts that arise from societal expectations and personal identity.
As David navigates his relationships and grapples with his sexuality, the story unfolds into a tragic confrontation with the consequences of his choices and the unspoken complexities of the human heart.
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• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Just Above My Head
James Baldwin
Just Above My Head is James Baldwin's final novel, published in 1979.
It tells the story of gospel singer Arthur Montana and his family, exploring themes of love, identity, and the black struggle in America.
The novel spans decades, from Harlem to international locales, weaving a narrative of personal and societal transformation.
Baldwin's work is characterized by its lyrical prose and profound exploration of human experience.
In the first major biography of Baldwin in more than a decade, James Baldwin: Living in Fire (Pluto Press, 2019), Bill V. Mullen celebrates the personal and political life of the great African-American writer who changed the face of Western politics and culture. As a lifelong anti-imperialist, black queer advocate, and feminist, Baldwin (1924-1987) was a passionate chronicler of the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, the U.S. war against Vietnam, Palestinian liberation struggle, and the rise of LGBTQ rights. Mullen explores how Baldwin's life and work channel the long history of African-American freedom struggles, and explains how Baldwin both predicted and has become a symbol of the global Black Lives Matter movement.
Bill V. Mullen is Professor of English and American Studies at Purdue University. His specializations are American Literature and Studies, African American Studies, Cultural Studies, Working-Class Studies, Critical Race Theory and Marxist Theory.
Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel. Twitter.
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