The Learning Tree. (Signed)

Basis for a groundbreaking film in Black American cinema

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First English edition of this fictional autobiography by Kansas-born Gordon Parks. The book is the basis for the 1969 movie that was directed by Parks; the first movie released by a major studio with a Black American as the director. Parks also scored the film’s music and wrote its screenplay.

Set in the 1920s, The Learning Tree is a bittersweet coming-of-age story, a year in the life of a 14-year old boy born into a poor black family in Kansas. The young man learns about love and fear and “at a pivotal point in the novel [he] has to choose between his integrity and racial allegiance when he confesses to witnessing a black man murder a white farmer, thereby freeing the accused white man with his testimony.” (Melvin Donalson)

The dust jacket artwork is unique to this British edition. Scarce, thus, and especially signed.

From the collection of Oliver St. Clair Franklin, OBE, Honorary Consul, British Honorary Consulate, Philadelphia.

Price: $450.00