Langston Hughes (Hughes Langston)

(1902-1967)
Born February 1, 1902 in Joplin (pc. Missouri). Grew up in various cities in the Midwest, at the end of the school was an English teacher in Mexico, for a short time he lived in Europe. In 1924, Hughes, the younger waiter at a hotel in Washington, opened a poet V. Lindsay, who helped him to release the first book of poems Weary blues (Weary Blues, 1926). Already gaining a solid literary reputation, Hughes completed the education, graduating in 1929 Lincoln University.
In addition to poetry, Hughes left an extremely rich heritage in a variety of genres: novel, autobiographical prose, short stories, plays. He has worked in newspapers, often by publishing a series of satirical sketches there, in which the protagonist is a black citizen Simple. Hughes died in New York on May 22, 1967.

Most of the poems written by Hughes vers libre and contain recognizable scenes from the life. The rhythm of his poetry is related to modern music - the rhythms of ballads (Saturday night) or the blues. Among Hughes' books - collections of verse Shakespeare in Harlem (Shakespeare in Harlem, . 1942), . Installation deferred dreams (Montage of a Dream Deferred, . 1951), . Panther and whip (The Panther and the Lash, . 1967); play Mulatto (Mulatto, . 1935) and Black Christmas (Black Nativity, . 1961); autobiography Great Sea (The Big Sea, . 1940), . I wander about the world and wonder (I Wonder as I Wander, . 1956); novel Laughter through tears (Not Without Laughter, . 1930); collection of stories to laugh, . not to cry (Laughing to Keep From Crying, . 1952),
. Stories of Simple made the book The Best of Simple (The Best of Simple, 1961).