Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone

A Novel

By: James Baldwin

Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly

Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

At the height of his theatrical career, the actor Leo Proudhammer is nearly felled by a heart attack. As he hovers between life and death, Baldwin shows the choices that have made him enviably famous and terrifyingly vulnerable. For between Leo's childhood on the streets of Harlem and his arrival into the intoxicating world of the theater lies a wilderness of desire and loss, shame and rage.

An adored older brother vanishes into prison. There are love affairs with a white woman and a younger black man, each of whom will make irresistible claims on Leo's loyalty. And everywhere there is the anguish of being black in a society that at times seems poised on the brink of total racial war.

Overpowering in its vitality, extravagant in the intensity of its feeling, Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone is a major work of American literature.

©1968 James Baldwin (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Narrator Kevin] Kenerly's control of accent and dialect is masterful. There are sections that could come across as rants that he turns into passages of moving emotional development." (AudioFile)

Extraordinary reading

Of the many audiobooks I’ve listened to, this is among the best performances. Such a remarkable book deserves an equally remarkable reading. Bravo!!

Extraordinary book and reading

This beautifully written book was matched by the Kevin’s wonderful performance. I highly recommend this book.

Beautifully written book!

I thoroughly enjoyed the performance as well. It was as if Baldwin was reading it himself.

Message for Our Time

Although Baldwin wrote this novel in the 1960s the issues in it are contemporary. This can mean that little has changed for Black people, gays, and artist of any hue. Or we might just call it a universal work of art. Well worth reading again, as I read it in the 70s.

Another look at relationships in the U.S.

I thought the narration was very strong. I don't find this one of JB's best novels but well worth several hours to enjoy.

Excellent

Excellent story. Excellent reader. Kevin Kenerly excels at bringing Baldwin's characters to life. It's a marvelous performance. 

One of America's Greatest Novel

When I first started listening, I struggled a little with the soft tone of Kenerly's reading but as the story unfolded, I realized the narration of the audiobook perfectly matched the melancholic reminiscing of the story's narrator. Kenerly masterfully captures each cast member in the story with previous distinction.

The story itself, like all of Baldwin's novels deserves to outlive the nation it paints and should be essential reading for anyone attempting to gain an understanding of the long struggle of Black America.

I want to meet Leo the Lion!

I am not worthy of writing a review of a story so grand and eloquently written and read. Thank you Kevin Kenerly for your voice is hypnotic and beautiful. I will surely revisit this book and any more writings available by this marvelous author. I wish to hear you read other books of Mr. Baldwin’s works.

Brilliant Writing, Excellent Narrator

This narration really brings the characters to life. Of course James Baldwin’s writing is fresh and humanizing and endearing and the story and characters are so well written. Definitely an audiobook that you’ll want to listen to more than once.

Fantastic writing and narration

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am so looking forward to more of James Baldwin’s insights and stories.