This book presents articles by James on Trotsky's life and work (unavailable in other collections), on the work of Edmund Wilson and Richard Wright, on the impact of European colonialism in Africa, on the interrelationship between U.S. and international labour history, and on African American history. Substantial essays by the editors and Paul Buhle, John Bracey, Martin Glabeman, and Charles van Gelderen contextualize James' own essays.