Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man A Reference Guide

Summary: Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is one of the most widely read works of African American literature. Ellison's novel was published at the onset of the civil rights movement in 1953, and it reflects the enduring concerns of that era. It is also an artistically and ideologically complex work, and students often find it challenging as well as compelling. This book gives students an insightful overview of the novel and its... contexts. The volume offers a detailed summary of the plot of Invisible Man as well as a discussion of its origin. It additionally considers the social, historical, and political contexts informing Ellison's work, along with the themes and issues Ellison addresses. It explores Ellison's literary art and surveys the novel's critical reception. Students will value this book for what it says about Invisible Man as well as for its illumination of enduring social concerns. [read more]