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I Wonder as I Wander  By  cover art

I Wonder as I Wander

By: Langston Hughes, Arnold Rampersad
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
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Publisher's summary

In I Wonder as I Wander, Langston Hughes vividly recalls the most dramatic and intimate moments of his life in the turbulent 1930s.

His wanderlust leads him to Cuba, Haiti, Russia, Soviet Central Asia, Japan, Spain (during its Civil War), through dictatorships, wars, revolutions. He meets and brings to life the famous and the humble, from Arthur Koestler to Emma, the Black Mammy of Moscow. It is the continuously amusing, wise revelation of an American writer journeying around the often strange and always exciting world he loves.

©1956 Langston Hughes (P)2011 Random House

What listeners say about I Wonder as I Wander

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The Writer

Would you consider the audio edition of I Wonder as I Wander to be better than the print version?

Cannot say, didn't read the print version. But, I can say that the Narrator was the book most enjoyable to listen to. His voice never wavered and, though I've read several books, his narrating, by far, was excellent.

What was one of the most memorable moments of I Wonder as I Wander?

The incredible journey throughout Russia and beyond.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were several scenes that were moving - i.e., leaving home for Florida and Haiti, traveling abroad, returning to Mexico, home and returning, once again, across the water to Paris - all were moving. Though he had little money, he had fun and met so many wonderful and gracious people along the way. The last chapter made an excellent notation: Mr. Hugest stated he wanted to be a professional writer, travel, meet people and view main events. I felt like I witnessed and viewed them with him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think it was the timeline. My mother often shared stories of the 30s; and hearing this fabulous book, made me feel like I was living it with the author.

Any additional comments?

I had heard of Mr. Langston Hughes and his fabulous poetry; this book, however, was beyond anything I'd ever thought or read. It should be a must read for all.
Great, GrEaT BOOK!!

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10 people found this helpful

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Love this book!

I felt like I was in the places written about by Mr. Langston Hughes. It should be required reading in school. Being in my 50's and being a product of a Southern education, I was deprived of the vast amount of African American literature available. Thank God for historically black colleges like Southern University. That is where I first became aware of people like Langston Hughes, Weldon Johnson and many others.

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8 people found this helpful

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Should be on everyone's must read list!

This is a fascinating memoir of Mr. Hughes' journey(s) around the globe during the 1930's. From the Americas through Europe, the Soviet Union, Shanghai, Japan, Spain and back. Mr. Hughes seemed to be near the center of most of the major events of that decade.

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5 people found this helpful

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An amazing life

This book offers a perspective that is beyond informative. Following Mr. Hughes on his travels through the Deep South, the Soviet Union and lands beyond is a treat. A well-read and fascinating account of life in the 1930s.

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I loved it!!

I loved it!!

I've never known much about Langston Hughes. Just that he was a guy and wrote poems but after this book. I'm proud to say that we are of the same race. I learned that he was a traveler and he was devoted to his dream as a writer. He had countless adventures and could tell stories forever. Which is what he did in this book. A Must admit that this is a long book but it was totally worth.

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Fascinating early life world travels !!

Very good biography of Langston Hughes' early life travels around the world, written in a vivid and engrossing style. He had an amazing life, crossing paths with everyone from Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, to Niña De Los Peines, to Ernest Hemmingway, to Diego Rivera. Excellent description of life in Depression era (pre-WWII) Russia.

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An historical journey through Hughes' travels

Interesting, historical first person opinions. Gives a good perspective on the character of Langston Hughes and the global world he casually encounters. As a lover of history I enjoyed knowing Russia as it evolved toward equality; Spain under attack and the other countries he lived in. Hughes becomes so much more than a great writer. He was inquisitive, brave, kind and brilliant.

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Very listenable

Where does I Wonder as I Wander rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

I like non-fiction. This audiobook ranks in the top 10 I have heard. The narration is excellent, and the story moves from one interesting story to another.

What other book might you compare I Wonder as I Wander to and why?

I was reminded of my recent listen, Winston Churchill. The time frame was similar, which is to me a worthy era of history. I did not know anything about Langston Hughes. This audiobook broadened my perspective.

Have you listened to any of the narrator???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I have not listened to any of the narrator`s other performances. He did well in conveying the voice of Langston Hughes.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Harlem was in vogue.

Any additional comments?

The story prompted me to frequently wonder, ``What drove Langston Hughes to wander as he did??` This was a great study in character.

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the historical events

I enjoy this reading. There was alot of information on the war overseas in 1938 that I found interesting

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beautifull educational, historical, personal

learned about American civil rights in world context thru eyes of a great talented writer

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