Not Without Laughter

Langston Hughes

Aug 2022 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Jaime Lincoln Smith

About this audiobook

Not Without Laughter is drawn in part from the author's own recollections of youth and early manhood. This stirring coming-of-age tale unfolds in 1930s rural Kansas. A poignant portrait of African-American family life in the early twentieth century, it follows the story of young Sandy Rogers as he grows from a boy to a man. We meet Sandy's mother, Annjee, who works as a housekeeper for a wealthy white family; his strong-willed grandmother, Hager; Jimboy, Sandy's father, who travels the country looking for work; Aunt Tempy, the social climber; and Aunt Harriet, the blues singer who has turned away from her faith. A fascinating chronicle of a family's joys and hardships, Not Without Laughter is a vivid exploration of growing up and growing strong in a racially divided society. A rich and important work, it masterfully echoes the black American experience.

About the author

The great poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes (1902-67) was equally adept at writing novels, plays, essays, song lyrics, and newspaper columns. In every genre, he created stirring expressions of life's struggles and joys.

Jaime Lincoln Smith, a first-generation Jamaican American, is an actor, writer, producer, and educator. He has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in numerous regional theaters across the country. As a narrator, he is the recipient of a 2022 AudioFile Earphones Award as well as the 2022 Audie Award in the YA category.