The electrifying first novel from James Baldwin whose life & words are immortalized in the Oscar-nominated film I Am Not Your Negro'I had to deal with what hurt me most I had to deal with my father' Drawing on James Baldwin's own boyhood in a religious community in 1930s Harlem his first novel tells the story of young Johnny Grimes Johnny is destined to become a preacher like his father Gabriel at the Temple of the Fire Baptized where the church swells with song & it is as if 'the Holy Ghost were riding on the air' But he feels only scalding hatred for Gabriel whose fear & fanaticism lead him to abuse his family Johnny vows that for him things will be different This blazing tale is full of passion & guilt of secret sinners & prayers singing on the wind 'A beautiful enduring spirtual song of a novel' Andrew O' Hagan' With vivid imagery with lavish attention to details Mr Baldwin has told his feverish story' The New York Times