HOME TO HARLEM

As Kevin R. Free deftly narrates this 1928 bestseller with understated ease, the strength, newfound artistic freedoms, and dizzying magic of the Harlem Renaissance come to life. The Roaring Twenties roar loudly in wonderfully vivid descriptions of gambling, prostitution, cutting-edge jazz, and perfectly groomed mobsters, but it's the story of a job-hopping down-on-his-luck longshoreman who falls in love with an equally down-on-her-luck call girl that will tug at listeners' hearts. Author Claude McKay was a master of dialogue and dialect, and Golden Voice Free is at his best giving distinct voices and accents to the many tough guys (and girls), rail workers, and kitchen staff. The bisexual McKay never shied away from discussions of sexual freedom, racism, and class prejudices. Powerful, important listening. B.P. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2025]