Maya Angelou was an American author, poet, civil rights activist, and a prolific writer. She penned over 30 books, including the celebrated autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. How many books did Maya Angelou write? In total, she published 36 books, some of which were written in collaboration with other authors.
Summary Close
1. Poetry
2. Essay Collections
3. Collaborations
4. Shorter Works
5. Legacy
The bulk of her writings were autobiographical works. Her first published book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1970. She wrote 10 other autobiographical books which were published over the course of her lifetime. This includes her 1969 memoir, Gather Together in My Name, and 1996’s All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes.
Aside from autobiographical works, Angelou also wrote poetry collections and books for children. She released her first collection of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die, in 1971. In total, she published seven volumes of poetry, including Phenomenal Woman, A Brave and Startling Truth, And Still I Rise, and Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing?.
Angelou wrote six books chronicling the experiences of being African American. These include poems, essays, and contributions to compilations. The works address a wide range of topics, from the civil rights movement and other social justice concerns, to stories unique to the black experience. Additionally, Angelou wrote several books for children aged five and up, sharing stories of African-American culture.
Maya Angelou wrote books that were meant to both entertain and educate. With her trademark lyrical prose, she crafted works that both chronicled her life and delved into matters of race and identity. Her extensive body of work is highly celebrated and remains relevant today.
Poetry
In addition to her autobiographical works and books for children, Maya Angelou wrote many volumes of poetry. Her 1971 debut collection, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Die, was about the hard realities of being black in the United States. Her later collections are among the most iconic works of American literature. Phenomenal Woman (1978) is an ode to female beauty, while And Still I Rise (1978) is an inspirational poem about perseverance. In 1993, she released six sonnets as a collection called The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou.
Other poetry collections from Angelou include The Heart of a Woman (1981), Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing? (1983), and On the Pulse of Morning (1993). The poetry of Maya Angelou is often adapted for both stage and film. Additionally, her works are widely studied by students in schools and universities.
Essay Collections
In addition to her poetry collections, Maya Angelou also wrote collections of essays and contributions to compilations. Her 1993 work, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now, is a collection of essays that explore the diversity of experience among African-Americans. Her 1996 work, Even the Stars Look Lonesome, is structured around topics like hope, friendship, and love. She also wrote several collections in collaboration with other authors, such as A Song Flung Up to Heaven with Dave Brubeck and Conversations with Maya Angelou with Oprah Winfrey.
Angelou’s essays were often about the realities of race and the power of the individual to overcome prejudice and injustice. She sought to educate and empower readers, particularly those from marginalized communities, to stand up for themselves and confront systemic oppression.
Collaborations
Maya Angelou wrote several works in collaboration with other authors. In 1994, she collaborated with Dave Brubeck in A Song Flung Up to Heaven, a collection of poems and stories about racial injustice in the United States. Angelou also collaborated with Oprah Winfrey on several books, including letters, essays, and conversations. Their 2003 work, Letter to My Daughter, is a collection of letters of wisdom and advice meant to provide solace and inspiration.
Additionally, Angelou wrote several plays and contributed to compilations of essays and poetry. Examples of these works include 1993’s Six Women: Black/White Relationships in American History and the poetry anthology In Search of Color Everywhere (1996).
Shorter Works
In addition to her longer works, Angelou wrote several short works, such as essays, speeches, and articles, for both scholarly and popular publications. These included contributions to anthologies such as Rejoice! Celebrating Black Families (1996), and works such as A Cup of Sun (1953), The Rejected Woman (1965), and Mass Appeal (1983), a play about life in the Church.
Maya Angelou also wrote short stories, plays, and screenplays. In 1981, her work Henrika was adapted into a made-for-TV film. She wrote more than a dozen plays, including the Tony Award-nominated Cabaret for Freedom. Additionally, she wrote a screenplay for the 1987 film Sister, Sister.
Legacy
Maya Angelou was one of the most celebrated writers of the twentieth century. Her works demonstrate her commitment to social justice, her unique and lyrical voice, and her vivid recounting of her experiences. Her body of work has been highly celebrated and continues to be relevant today.
Angelou was often cited as an influence by many authors, including James Baldwin, Edward P. Jones, and even Beyoncé. Additionally, her works have been adapted for both the stage and screen. She was the first African-American member of the National Association of Writers and Editors and recipient of the National Book Awards. In total, she wrote over 36 books, making her one of the most prolific authors of the twentieth century.
