Bigger Thomas has grown up in Chicagos slums reckless angry and adrift.A respectable job with the affluent Dalton family provides hope but sets him on course for a catastrophic collision between his world and theirs. Hunted by citizen and police alike and baited by prejudiced officials Bigger finds himself the cause clbre in an evernarrowing endgame.First published in 1940 Native Son shocked readers with its candid depiction of violence and confrontation of racial stereotypes. It went on to make Richard Wright the first bestselling black writer in America.In addition to being a masterpiece a Great American Novel GuardianThe most important and celebrated novel of Negro life to have appeared in America James BaldwinWITH AN AFTERWORD BY GARY YOUNGE