If Beale Street Could Talk

James Baldwin's timeless, bestselling novel of love and solidarity in the face of injustice—the beloved classic that inspired the major motion picture directed by Barry Jenkins

“One of the best books James Baldwin has ever written—perhaps the best of all.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

Tish is nineteen years old and in love with Fonny, a young sculptor who is the father of her child. Tish and Fonny have pledged to get married, but when Fonny is falsely accused of a terrible crime, their families set out to clear his name and reunite the young lovers. As they face an uncertain future, Tish and Fonny experience a kaleidoscope of emotions—affection, despair, and, not least of all, hope. In a love story that evokes the blues, James Baldwin gives us two characters so alive and profoundly realized that they are unforgettably ingrained in the American psyche.