‘Go tell it on the mountain’ by James Baldwin is a semiautobiographical novel. It was published in 1953. The American novelist was an important voice on racism in the mid-20th century.
The novel is about a black family living in Harlem, New York and covers a day in the life of John Grimes. It has many biblical references so non-Christians may find it a hard-read. It deals with deep-rooted social and patriarchal family oppression in the life of fourteen-year-old John.
Baldwin uses flashbacks to tell the story of John’s father, mother and aunt covering the last years of the 19th century into the 1930s. In the last chapter he also uses frames to narrate the transformation of John on the threshing floor of the church. Baldwin’s writing in this last chapter is truly vivid and striking.
He is successful in shouting out from a mountain top about the plight of the black people of America.
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Go Tell it on the Mountain (Penguin Modern Classics) Paperback – 4 October 2001
by
James Baldwin
(Author),
Andrew O'Hagan
(Introduction)
James Baldwin
(Author)
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ISBN-100141185910
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ISBN-13978-0141185910
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PublisherPenguin UK
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Publication date4 October 2001
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LanguageEnglish
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Dimensions13 x 1.7 x 19.8 cm
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Print length272 pages
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Review
It broke my heart and made me want to jump up and down... It captures an essential aspect of life in America, its contradictions and seductions, that bittersweet mix of love and hate that so many feel towards the country -- Azar Nafisi ― Independent
His prose hit me, almost winding me with its intensity. I'd never read a novel that described loneliness and desire with such burning eloquence -- Douglas Field ― Guardian
Vivid imagery, with lavish attention to details ― The New York Times
A beautiful, enduring, spiritual song of a novel -- Andrew O'Hagan
One of the few essential novelists of our time ― New Statesman
His prose hit me, almost winding me with its intensity. I'd never read a novel that described loneliness and desire with such burning eloquence -- Douglas Field ― Guardian
Vivid imagery, with lavish attention to details ― The New York Times
A beautiful, enduring, spiritual song of a novel -- Andrew O'Hagan
One of the few essential novelists of our time ― New Statesman
About the Author
Born in Harlem in 1924, James Baldwin was a novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, social critic, and the author of more than twenty books. His first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, appeared in 1953 to excellent reviews, and his essay collection The Fire Next Time was a bestseller that made him an influential figure in the civil rights movement. Baldwin spent many years in France, where he moved to escape the racism and homophobia of the United States. He died in 1987.
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Product details
- Publisher : Penguin UK (4 October 2001)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0141185910
- ISBN-13 : 978-0141185910
- Item Weight : 204 g
- Dimensions : 13 x 1.7 x 19.8 cm
- Country of Origin : United Kingdom
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Best Sellers Rank:
#36,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #256 in Religious & Spiritual Fiction
- #1,742 in Classic Fiction (Books)
- #3,317 in Contemporary Fiction (Books)
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4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
2,089 global ratings
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Reviewed in India on 26 February 2021
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Helpful
Reviewed in India on 11 October 2019
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The paperback was damaged. Although I love the book the condition of the paperback just dampened the pleasure of reading.
Reviewed in India on 24 March 2019
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Book pages look old
Reviewed in India on 8 September 2020
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Re printed, bad quality, too expensive, took a month to deliver.
Reviewed in India on 29 March 2017
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This is the first work I read of Baldwin. Amazed at the power of his style. Some of his descriptions are so vivid, a video can't be any better.
Top reviews from other countries

Elizabeth Morris
3.0 out of 5 stars
He's the best but this book isn't
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 August 2020Verified Purchase
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN by JAMES BALDWIN
Obviously James Baldwin is one of the greatest writers of all time so I don’t need to preach about his masterful use of language and pacing and characterisation (although I just have 🤣) but I do want to tell you that even if you are an atheist - as I am - you can still take something from this novel. Yes, there were some dense passages on nothing more than the bible and God, and yes, these were a little tedious at times, but the bigger picture here is this family; John’s family, and how they came to be who and where they are now.
I loved how Baldwin took us effortlessly from past to present in order to explore how these characters became what they are in the present day.
I felt unsure and disconcerted while reading this because I was thinking about myself and my own life instead of just reading the words Baldwin had given me. I was constantly thinking about this poor young boy who is gay but will never get acceptance for that. And his religious awakening I saw more as a cry for help. One that will never be answered because the era in which he lives is not equipped to give him what he needs. Very sad. But then I feel this way after finishing any Baldwin novel.
Obviously James Baldwin is one of the greatest writers of all time so I don’t need to preach about his masterful use of language and pacing and characterisation (although I just have 🤣) but I do want to tell you that even if you are an atheist - as I am - you can still take something from this novel. Yes, there were some dense passages on nothing more than the bible and God, and yes, these were a little tedious at times, but the bigger picture here is this family; John’s family, and how they came to be who and where they are now.
I loved how Baldwin took us effortlessly from past to present in order to explore how these characters became what they are in the present day.
I felt unsure and disconcerted while reading this because I was thinking about myself and my own life instead of just reading the words Baldwin had given me. I was constantly thinking about this poor young boy who is gay but will never get acceptance for that. And his religious awakening I saw more as a cry for help. One that will never be answered because the era in which he lives is not equipped to give him what he needs. Very sad. But then I feel this way after finishing any Baldwin novel.
One person found this helpful
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LK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterful Storytelling and Much More
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 June 2017Verified Purchase
Masterful storyteller. I loved this book and what Baldwin teaches me from a writer's perspective. It is my first time reading Baldwin and he did not disappoint me; not one bit. He writing is raw, enlightening and compelling. If you gain from this book consider reading his short story 'Going to Meet the Man'; it is the most compelling piece of fiction I have read aside from Flannery O'Connor's short story 'A Good Man is Hard to Find.' Both are chilling but Baldwin's is more so. Be prepared for something like you have never read before.
7 people found this helpful
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dustspeck
4.0 out of 5 stars
Religion and racism
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 August 2020Verified Purchase
I read this book for a book club and so came to it with little knowledge. It took a while to get into but the effort is more than worthwhile. The book covers the topics of racism, religion and family tensions so is not exactly an easy read but is very good. Would be an 8.5 or 9 out of 10 book
2 people found this helpful
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RYAN FIENNES
5.0 out of 5 stars
Important literature
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2020Verified Purchase
This book is recommend, as I feel it is an important piece of literature - not just an important part of black literature.
The writer is very gifted and has produced several great pieces of work; including his essays. I purchased the Everyman's Library Classics Edition of the book, and it is that I would like to recommend.
The Everyman's Library Classics Editions, are really great quality editions, that don't cost the earth. They feature dust jackets, quality binding, and ribbon page markers; and the pages are quite thick, with good size print.
The writer is very gifted and has produced several great pieces of work; including his essays. I purchased the Everyman's Library Classics Edition of the book, and it is that I would like to recommend.
The Everyman's Library Classics Editions, are really great quality editions, that don't cost the earth. They feature dust jackets, quality binding, and ribbon page markers; and the pages are quite thick, with good size print.

Sarah Pemberton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, thought-provoking book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 November 2020Verified Purchase
I read this for my book club. Almost everyone in the book club loved it, but we all had different perspectives on it. For some people it resonated with their experiences of being raised in very religious environments. For me, the major themes were about the difference between ur actual behaviour and what we show to the world, and the queer subtext. This is a story that will stay with me.