nMaster of language (The New York Times) John Edgar Widemans first-ever collection of his most revered works--two novels and story collection all set in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Homewood where he grew up. nDamballah, Hiding Place, and Sent for You Yesterday provide a stunning introduction to the uncompromising work of John Edgar Wideman, whose literary achievements have inspired The New York Times to name him one of Americas premier writers of fiction. n nDamballahs narratives examine the vexed history of Homewood, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhood whose origins are rooted in a time when slavery was still legal in the United States of America. The novels Hiding Place and Sent for You Yesterday personalize and interrogate that historys presence in the contemporary lives of Homewood people and all Americans. n nDeeply concerned that designations such as economically oppressed or Black continue to dismiss and marginalize rather than embrace communities like the one in which he was raised, John Edgar Wideman--employing words on the page as his weapon--has dedicated himself to recording the weight, beauty, complexity, and justice that he believes Homewoods voices, stories, and lives have earned and deserve. n nIn 1983, The Homewood Trilogy signaled the arrival of a major voice in American literature. Forty years later, this edition of the Trilogy celebrates Widemans ongoing contribution by offering these masterworks to a new generation of readers.n