Still Life in Harlem

A powerful memoir of a man rediscovering his roots and reckoning with the complexities of Harlem.

In Still Life in Harlem, Eddy L. Harris delivers an insightful and deeply affecting look at a neighborhood that is both real and metaphorical. This New York Times Notable Book chronicles Harlem's transformation from a pastoral suburb to the mecca of the black universe to a symbol of urban despair.

With remarkable emotional depth and candor, Harris explores issues of identity through Harlem's resilient residents and examines his tense relationship with his father, juxtaposing a generation that fought to ensure a better life for their children against a recent generation cornered by resignation. Torn over what this community has become and remorseful for having abandoned it, Harris is lured back by Harlem's enchanting whispers.

In a poignant stretch toward grace, Harris discovers his need for Harlem and Harlem's need for him, finding life and hope still smoldering in this rich African American community. Still Life in Harlem is a masterful tribute to a place that has captured the African American imagination and spirit.