James Baldwin’s Another Country

Reece Buckett

It seems that, recently, James Baldwin and his work have had something of a renaissance, thanks to two films that came from his written work. The first of those was I Am Not Your N*gro, a documentary based on Baldwin’s unfinished final novel directed by Raoul Peck, and the second was Barry Jenkins’ highly anticipated follow-up to his 2016 Best Picture-winning Moonlight, an adaptation (albeit not a literal one) of what may be Baldwin’s most famous novel, If Beale Street Could Talk. Both films seemed to respire the conversation surrounding Baldwin and his achievements as a writer - one who challenged the representations of race and sexuality in the 1950s and 1960s through his intensely beautiful and melancholic prose.

Another Country was written almost a decade after Baldwin published his debut novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain. The book is centered on Rufus - a self-destructive jazz musician living in New York, experiencing just what you’d expect him to in a Baldwin novel in the at-first wonderful but eventually grim social underbelly of the city lifestyle. The book, perhaps expectedly, was met with some shock - Baldwin certainly wasn’t new to shaking up his audience, and even seems to get some joy out of it considering that his writing only seemed to become more challenging with time. Most of the book follows the aftermath that Rufus leaves in his wake, particularly the drama that ensues surrounding his best friend, Vivaldo, and his sister, Ida who are left troubled by Rufus’s problems and search for peace.

However, few people read Baldwin’s novels for the premise - his poetic prose has always been the selling point. His way with words blends beautifully with the perspective he is speaking from - when with Rufus, the world is dark, metallic, and horrifying in a way that can hardly be articulated without spurting thousands of words. The writing is laden with a unique and distinct sense of melancholy, one that can become overwhelming were it not for some of the wonders in the dialogue between characters, particularly their often dry humour and their slick talk. Baldwin’s political lens also comes through clearly - his disdain for the American way of life stays splattered on each and every page (Hell, it’s even in the title!). It’s a book torn between two equally soaring passions - love and hatred - detailing the everlasting war between the two by simply witnessing how they seem to spur each other on and constantly become intertwined. Of course, because of this, it isn’t a particularly easygoing read: Another Country’s pages are mostly bleak ones, but there is something to be said for a book so bold and so brave, especially one written in the 1960s. There is an electrical vibration behind it all, one that thrusts the plot forwards and the characters in their various directions (often towards tragedies that the reader must choose if they deserve or not) and remains uncompromising from start to finish. Baldwin was always a brilliant writer, but Another Country may be his crowning achievement. It’s a jaw-droppingly sharp book, written with such distinct beauty and emotion throughout that it is impossible to shake from your mind, but to Baldwin, it was just another incredible novel to add to his list of published works.

The Edge's Podcasts Picks

MARCH 2021

Last month (horrifyingly) featured the anniversary of the UK's first national lockdown. Predictably and justifiably, much entertainment was again consumed as we all waited for restrictions to be lifted. Among these were, of course, podcasts; Edge writers have collected their regulars from March below.

Think: Sustainability Maddie Lock

Think: Sustainability is a podcast dedicated to all things sustainability, finding positive ways that we can reduce our waste in all forms - environmental, carbon, food, clothing, and so on. The show currently has 4 series, totalling 140 episodes, so if you get hooked you won’t run out any time soon. Series 1, which I’m currently on, is hosted by Ellen Leabeater and Jake Morcom. What’s lovely about this podcast is that it’s both educational and fun, with various jokes bouncing between the hosts, and music or sound clips to cut up segments. Episodes are also just under 30 minutes, which means you can squeeze them in while you get ready or walk to work/uni. So far I’ve heard about worm farms, unethical clothing factories, nappies, coral ecosystems, the most sustainable pet (worms), and antibiotic resistance to name just a few! Each episode covers either one in-depth, or two to three smaller sustainable topics, which is why it’ll always keep you coming back for more.

The Bun and Cardigan Show Morgan McMillan The Bun and Cardigan Show is labelled a Detroit Pistons podcast; however, it is so much more than that. It is hosted by Detroit beat writer James Edwards III and the champion of Pistons Twitter, Nicolas Henkel. They are both educated on Detroit basketball history and always give you the latest news and notes around the team. But that’s not what makes this a fantastic podcast, as we hear amazing stories about how to break into the journalism world, nostalgic stories of growing up in Michigan and supporting sports franchises that haven’t been good in a *long* time. We also get an insight into the mind of Henkel, who is currently a rising star making his ESPN television debut recently as being the guy who showered himself in beer after Pistons beat the Brooklyn Nets. Edwards III also gives you insight into how the front office works in the NBA and usually ends up talking about his once favourite team, the LA Clippers. This podcast isn’t for everyone, but it is just a great laugh listening to 2 friends who have a very father-and-son dynamic discuss basketball, life and even their musical recommendations.