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Another Country Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Another Country


The beginning of "Another Country" is that the main character, Rufus Scott, dies. He commits suicide by jumping off a bridge in New York City. He leaves behind, his sister, Ida, and his friends. They include Vivaldo; a struggling novelist, Richard; another writer, Richard's wife; Cass, Eric; an actor returning from Eurpoe, Ellis, an executive, and Leona, who was Rufus lover, but is in a mental hospital in the south now due to a mental collapse.
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A relationship develops between Vivaldo who is Italian, and Ida who is black. Eric's male lover is coming to New York to be with him, and Eric is dealing with renewing relationships with everyone who he has not been around in a couple of years. Ellis is interested in Ida, and Richard and Cass are dealing with their marriage.
Best part of story, including ending: I loved the story. It was beautifully told. You feel like you get to know each of the characters, and you want them to be settled, but that is difficult based on the discrimination of the time, and how James Baldwin's writes about love as something that can be used to destroy another person, and he thinks that how a lot of people use love.

Best scene in story: I love the scene where Eric recalls walking in Europe and he is carrying a radio in his hand,listening to classic musical, and he is followed by a man that will be his lover. I like the scene because it show James Baldwin's writing ability, it is descriptive, and you can see it in your mind's eye.

Opinion about the main character: Rufus Scott can considered to be the main character in "Another Country" even though he dies in the first chapter. He is a tortured black man, some would say most black men are tortured in the United States, and he falls for a white woman who he physically abuses, but loves very much. Rufus is a creative genuis that could have been a better man, but instead he lived in a time where he was just seen as another black man.

The review of this Book prepared by Avis Yarbrough a Level 1 Blue Jay scholar

Chapter Analysis of Another Country

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   thoughtful Time/era of story    -   1960's-1970's Internal struggle/realization?    -   Yes Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Coping with loss of loved one(s)    -   Yes Loss of...    -   good friends

Main Character

Gender    -   Male Profession/status:    -   musician Age:    -   20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality    -   Black (American)

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   6 () United States    -   Yes Europe    -   Yes

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   actual description of hetero sex    -   two guys doing it Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Another Country

James Baldwin Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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