Examines the major divisions in criticism of this major African American writer, paying particular attention to the way each critical period defines Baldwin and his work for its own purposes.

Introduction
Judging James Baldwin: 1963-73
Canonizing James Baldwin: 1974-87
Retheorizing James Baldwin: 1988-2000
The Critical Reception of "Sonny's Blues"
James Baldwin and the Popular Reviews
Baldwin Studies Now
List of Works by James Baldwin
Works Cited
Index