Maya Angelou Books – The Best Maya Angelou Books and Poems
Maya Angelou died in 2014 at the age of 86, after a 50-year career that included three Grammys, one Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Pulitzer nomination, and 36 books. She was described by Oprah as her “mentor, mother/sister, and friend” during her 50-year career.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou’s autobiography, is regarded as one of the greatest autobiographies of all time, with Time magazine naming it an “All-Time 100 Nonfiction Book.” The book chronicles Angelou’s childhood struggles with abuse and prejudice.
Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie (1971)
She’s won praise for poems like They Went Home, Times-Square-Shoe-Shine-Composition, and No Loser, Now Weeper, which explore themes of love, racism, and nostalgia.
Gather Together in My Name (1974)
In this follow-up to her best-selling memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, she tells the story of a teen mother struggling to provide for her young son.
And Still I Rise (1978)
Maya Angelou’s poetry honors life through an energetic rhythm and written prowess, celebrating everything from dreams and freedom to freedom and the sounds of the South.
The Heart of a Woman (1981)
She discovers a love for writing and falls in love with a man who demonstrates that life can be lived outside of the city.
On the Pulse of Morning (1993)
On the Pulse of Morning, a poem by Maya Angelou, was read at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, bringing Angelou’s signature soulful prose to a national stage and sending a message of unity and equality to countless Americans.
Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now (1993)
Soon after, she published her first book of short essays, in which she shares her thoughts on topics like style, death, racism, and self-love in lyrical prose.
Phenomenal Woman (1995)
May is National Women’s History Month, and we’re honoring Maya Angelou’s poetry, which includes four of her most well-known works. Read some of Angelou’s most well-known works below.
Letter to My Daughter (2008)
Maya Angelou talks with Oprah Winfrey about what it means to be fulfilled in the face of life’s challenges. Winfrey: She provides a lesson on how to find happiness through stories of her tumultuous youth, motherhood, loss, and personal growth.
Mom & Me & Mom (2013)
For the first time, Angelou discusses her mother’s relationship with her, revealing how she battles feelings of abandonment and resentment as she tries to mend their relationship.
A Complete List of Maya Angelou Works
Maya Angelou’s Complete Poems. A Song Flung Up to Heaven. Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing? Amazing Peace and Still I Rise.
How many books did Maya Angelou wrote in her lifetime?
Maya Angelou is best known for her seven autobiographical books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1970.
What book made Maya Angelou famous?
Maya Angelou’s first autobiographical work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), received critical acclaim and a National Book Award nomination, but her most famous poem is probably On the Pulse of Morning, which she wrote and delivered for US President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993.
How many best selling books did Maya Angelou write?
Maya Angelou has written 18 best-selling books and is a 37-time best-selling author.
- 1 Time Bestseller.
- 1 Time Bestseller. More About This Book.
- 1 Time Bestseller. More
What is Maya Angelou’s most famous poem?
Angelou recited her most famous poem, ” On the Pulse of Morning,” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, and Random House has published several more volumes of her poetry, as well as stand-alone publications of single poems.
What is Maya Angelou style of writing?
Angelou’s poetry and prose share many similarities: she used a direct, conversational voice in both, inviting readers to share in her stories and secrets, and she used strong and compelling metaphors and similes.
Who is the father of Maya’s son?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the first of Angelou’s seven autobiographical works, is her most famous and critically acclaimed work, spanning much of her childhood and following young Maya and her older brother as they bounce from their parents’ home to their grandmother’s and back again.
Who gave Maya her nickname?
Angelou’s older brother, Bailey, gave her the nickname “Maya,” and when she was seven, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend while in her mother’s care.
What is the first Maya Angelou book I should read?
1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969): I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was Maya Angelou’s first attempt at writing a book, and it was also the book that brought her international acclaim. In it, she discusses her life up to the age of 17 and discusses issues affecting Black American women during the Civil Rights Movement.
Why did the caged bird sing?
After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, Angelou was inspired to write I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by a meeting with writer James Baldwin and cartoonist Jules Feiffer as a way of dealing with her friend’s death and drawing attention to her own personal struggles with racism.
Who did Maya Angelou inspire?
Angelou mentored TV host Oprah Winfrey from her twenties onwards, acting as a support, friend, and guide throughout her career.
What is Maya Angelou’s real name?
Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis in 1928, but in the 1950s, she coined the name “Maya Angelou,” which is a portmanteau of sorts that combines her childhood nickname and a riff on her then-husband’s surname.
Who is the most important person in Maya’s growth toward being a strong and independent woman?
Maya’s most important influence is Annie Henderson (“Momma”), who deals with racism by submitting to it without resistance and developing “a strategy of obedience,” believing that to do otherwise would be dangerous. Momma is tall, standing over six feet tall, and physically strong.