Another Country is a 1962 novel by James Baldwin. The novel tells of the bohemian lifestyle of musicians, writers and other artists living in Harlem in the late 1950s. Its portrayed many taboo subject matters such as bisexuality, interracial couples and extramarital affairs. 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... DeFoes Robinson Crusoe, Newspaper edition published in 1719 A novel (from French nouvelle, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ... James Baldwin, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1955 James Baldwin (August 2, 1924 - December 1, 1987) was an African-American novelist and essayist, probably best known for his novel Go Tell it on the Mountain. ... Though a Bohemian is a native of the Czech province of Bohemia, a secondary meaning for bohemian emerged in 19th century France. ... Harlem is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, long known as a major African American cultural and business center. ... // Events and trends The 1950s in Western society was marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the height of the baby-boom from returning... A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) relating to any area of human activity or social custom declared as sacred and forbidden; breaking of the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society. ... Bisexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by aesthetic attraction, romantic love and sexual desire for both males and females. ... An interracial couple is a romantic couple or marriage in which the partners are of differing races. ... In a religious context, infidelity is lack of the faith that a religion requires; one who lacks such faith is an infidel. ...

Structure and Plot Synopsis

The first fifth of Another Country tells of the downfall of jazz drummer Rufus Scott. Rufus begins a relationship with Leona, a white woman from the south and introduces her to his friends, including the struggling novelist Vivaldo, his more successful mentor Richard and Richard’s wife Cass. Although the relationship is initially frivolous, it becomes serious and the two leave town for several weeks. Rufus is abusive towards Leona and she is eventually committed to a mental hospital and Rufus returns to Harlem in a deep depression. He commits suicide by jumping off a bridge. Jazz is a musical art form characterized by blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms, and improvisation. ... The U.S. Southern states or the South, also known colloquially as Dixie, constitute a distinctive region covering a large portion of the United States, with its own unique heritage, historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ... The word depression can mean: A decrease of functional activity in behavior patterns The everyday term for a sad mood, see depression (mood) The medical condition clinical depression, which includes decreased interest in pleasurable activities A sunken or depressed geological formation, see depression (geology) An economic depression, is a more... The Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David, 1787 Suicide (from Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of willfully ending ones own life; it is sometimes a noun for one who has committed or attempted the act. ...

Rufuses friends cannot understand his suicide, but afterwards they become closer and Vilvaldo begins a relationship with Rufus’ sister Ida, which is strained by racial tension and Ida's bitterness after her brother's death.

Eric, Rufus’s first male lover and an actor, returns to New York after a stay in France where he meets his longtime lover Yves. Eric returns to the novel's social circle but is more calm and composed than most of the clique. He also resumes an affair with Cass, who has become lonely due to Richard’s dedication to writing. Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, and is at the center of international finance, politics, music, and culture. ...

Themes

Willing Ignorance

One of the most significant themes in Another Country is one’s willingness to ignore parts of reality that he or she finds unpleasant. Vilvaldo is perhaps the most affected by this tendency. He also denies his own bisexuality. He refuses to admit his attraction to Rufus. On the night of his death, Rufus went to Vilvaldo and indicated a need for sexual love but Vilvaldo pretended not to recognize this need and later feels guilty, suspecting that he could have prevented Rufus’ death. He also does not see that his attraction to Ida mirrors his attraction to Rufus. The slang term being in the closet has been used to describe keeping secret ones sexual behaviors or orientation; typically homosexuality or bisexuality, but also including transgender or transsexual people and various paraphilias. ...

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Eric is the novel’s most honest and open character. He admits that Rufus was an abusive person, that his affair with Cass is frivolous and that his love of Yves is genuine. This also makes him the book’s most calm and composed character and, only after a night with Eric, does Vilvaldo see the world clearly.

Most of the white characters in the book refuse to admit the racial tension surrounding them. Cass and Richard are shocked when a group of black boys beat-up their sons. Ida constantly accuses Vilvaldo of taking their relationship less seriously because she is black and has known white men who get a thrill out of sex with black women. Vilvaldo refuses to admit any of this, although it is indicated that it may be true of their relationship.

Professional Jealousy

Richard and Vilvaldo are jealous of one another. Vilvaldo is jealous that Richard’s novel is being published while Richard is jealous of Vilvadlo because Richard sees suffering and a lack of commercial success as a sign of artistic integrity. Consequently, when Cass resumes her affair with Eric, Richard suspects she is seeing Vilvaldo.

Also, Ida’s success as a jazz singer causes increased tension between her and Vilvaldo.