Dancing in the DarkIn this searing novel, Caryl Phillips reimagines the life of the first black entertainer in the U.S. to reach the highest levels of fame and fortune.After years of struggling for success on the stage, Bert Williams (1874—1922), the child of recent immigrants from the Bahamas, made the radical decision to don blackface makeup and play the “coon.” Behind this mask he became a Broadway headliner–as influential a comedian as Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and W. C. Fields, who called him “the funniest man I ever saw, and the saddest man I ever knew.” It is this dichotomy at Williams’ core that Phillips explores in this richly nuanced, brilliantly written novel, unblinking in its attention to the sinister compromises that make up an identity. |
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Aida ain't already America appears audience Avenue began begins believe Bert body boys chair clear close colored continues coon Dahomey dancing dark decides door dressing room drink enter everything eyes face fact father feel feet finally George Walker George's girl give glass going hair hand head hear heart husband keep knew laugh leave light listens live looks Lottie man's mind morning Mother move Negro never nigger night once passed performance play reaches ready remain remembers seems short side silent simply sits sleep slowly smile soon stage stands steps Street sure talk tell theater things turn understands wait walk watches wife Williams and Walker wish woman York young Ziegfeld