GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN. by Baldwin, James - 1953

New York: Alfred A. Knopf.. 1953. Hardcover. Rare, nj1, black1, gay1 , 211 . First Edition. Octavo, original reddish-brown cloth stamped in gold in the dust jacket, [xii], 304 pages. The author's first book, an autobiographical novel based on his teenage years as a revivalist preacher in Harlem. The book examines the role of the Christian Church in the lives of African-Americans, both as a source of repression and moral hypocrisy and as a source of inspiration and community. It also, more subtly, examines racism in the United States and touches on gay and bisexual themes that would be more prominent in his later works.   Upon publication it was immediately hailed as a major treatment of black life in America and established Baldwin as the leading black novelist of his generation.  The rear panel of the dust jacket includes blurbs by Ralph Ellison, Selden Rodman, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others. Dustjacket art is by John O'Hara Cosgrave II. Musty, otherwise Very Good Condition, in the scarce jacket. The jacket shows edgewear and a 1 x ½” chip to the top of the front panel as well as invisible repairs to the rear. The spine is sunned but the front panel illustration remains strong. Very Good in Good jacket. (kh-2-3) .