Dr. Jessica B. Harris is a food historian, author of the memoir High on the Hog (which became a popular Netflix series) and personal friend of James Baldwin. In this fascinating episode, she talks about Baldwin’s move to France, the surprising and delightful role that food and hospitality played in his life and work, and what it was like to be roommates with Toni Morrison at Baldwin’s house in France and listen to him read the first draft of If Beale Street Could Talk out loud for the first time. Then Baldwin historian Ed Pavlić explores the importance of the radical “Welcome Table” concept Baldwin created at his house in France.

This podcast is a production of Penguin Random House Media + Knopf Publishing. It is hosted by Cree Myles, produced by Stephanie Bowen and Shalea Harris, edited by Clayton Gumbert, and executive produced by Trevor Baldwin.

For more information and to get the deluxe centenary editions of James Baldwin’s works, check out JamesBaldwinBooks.com, JamesBaldwin.info, and All Ways Black

Listen to more podcasts from Penguin Random House:

THIS IS TASTE, a food culture podcast 

CRIMINAL TYPES, a podcast featuring your favorite crime fiction authors

MARLON & JAKE READ DEAD PEOPLE, co-hosted by Marlon James

BOOKS CONNECT US