About the book
Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS’s American Masters.
Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity.”—James Baldwin
Editions of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780394429861
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780375507892
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780345514400
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780553279375
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780553380019
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780812980028
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307477729
- EBook
- ISBN 9781588369253
- Audiobook
- ISBN 9780394553696
- Audiobook
- ISBN 9780394558127
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780307877833
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780307879387
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780739334706
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780307879400
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9781787531635
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780375420382
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780307879394
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780679451730
Read an Excerpt
Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS’s American Masters.
Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity.”—James Baldwin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings about?
Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS’s American Masters.
Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity.”—James Baldwin
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general
Where can I read a sample of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780394429861
Who is/are the Author/s of the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
Maya Angelou
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780394429861) and hardcover(ISBN 9780375507892) and paperback(ISBN 9780345514400) and paperback(ISBN 9780553279375) and paperback(ISBN 9780553380019) and paperback(ISBN 9780812980028) and ebook(ISBN 9780307477729) and ebook(ISBN 9781588369253) and audiobook(ISBN 9780394553696) and audiobook(ISBN 9780394558127) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780307877833) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780307879387) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780739334706) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780307879400) and audiodisc(ISBN 9781787531635) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780375420382) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780307879394) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780679451730)
Where can I buy I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings from below
Where can I buy I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?