Fine Clothes to the Jew is a 1927 poetry collection by Langston Hughes published by Alfred A. Knopf. Because it departed from sentimental depictions of African-American culture, the collection was widely criticized, especially in the Black press, when it was published.Rummel, Jack; Wagner, Heather Lehr (2005) Langston Hughes: Poet, p. 52. Infobase Publishing,
Publication and response
The title appears in the poem "Hard Luck" in the book's first section.Bercovitch, Sacvan (2003). The Cambridge History of American Literature: Poetry and criticism, 1900-1950, p. 323. Cambridge University Press, It refers to a phrase popular in Harlem at the time, referring to citizens who would pawn fine clothes to predominantly Jewish-owned pawn shops when they were short on money.Nazel, Joe (2008). Langston Hughes, p. 140, Holloway House Publishing,
The collection was Hughes' least successful in terms of both sales and critical reception.Rampersad, Arnold (1986). Langston Hughes's Fine Clothes to the Jew. Callaloo, No. 26, Winter, 1986 However, his first work The Weary Blues and this collection made his reputation.Stewart, Jeffrey C (July 3, 1983). Uptown: the bard of urban. Los Angeles Times Biographer Arnold Rampersad called it Hughes' "most brilliant book of poems."Rampersad, Arnold (2002). The Life of Langston Hughes: Volume I: 1902-1941, I, Too, Sing America. Oxford University Press,
References
External links
Fine Clothes to the Jew at Google Books Fine Clothes to the Jew at HathiTrust Digital Library