Baldwin

Drawing on newly uncovered archival material, original research, and intimate interviews, Baldwin: A Love Story is the first major biography of James Baldwin in three decades, offering a fresh and deeply moving portrait of the celebrated writer and the relationships that shaped his life and work.

At its heart are the intertwined stories of Baldwin’s most enduring personal and creative connections: his mentor, Black American painter Beauford Delaney; his lover and muse, Swiss painter Lucien Happersberger; and his artistic collaborators, renowned Turkish actor Engin Cezzar and groundbreaking French artist Yoran Cazac.

With insight and nuance, Nicholas Boggs explores Baldwin’s public life alongside his private world, illuminating how his relationships across cultures, continents, politics, art, and desire became a powerful source of creative inspiration. Through these connections, Baldwin forged a body of work that spoke truth to power, helped shape the civil rights movement, and left an enduring mark on Black and queer literary history.

Richly researched and compellingly told, Baldwin: A Love Story offers a transformative new perspective on one of the twentieth century’s most influential literary and cultural figures—and reveals why his life, work, and legacy continue to resonate today.