All-Night Visitors

by Clarence Major, Bernard W. Bell

First published in 1969 in severely abridged form, Clarence Major's powerful first novel, All-Night Visitors, tells the riveting, erotic, and compelling story of Eli Bolton— orphan, college dropout, Vietnam veteran, and sexual voyager— as he struggles to establish a meaningful self-identity in a chaotic and bigoted world.

More like a surreal rhythm-and-blues prose poem than a conventional novel. Filled with violence, sex, and rage, Major's graphic descriptions are not for the squeamish. Still powerful and disturbing 30 years later, this novel is an important addition to the history of 20th-century African American literature.

Genres: African American

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Currently a professor of twentieth century American literature at the University of California at Davis, Clarence Major is a poet, painter and novelist who was born in Atlanta and grew up in Chicago.
Clarence Major was a finalist for the National Book Awards (1999). He is recipient of many awards, among them, a National Council on The Arts Award (1970), a Fulbright (1981-1983), a Western States Book Award (1986) and two Pushcart prizes--one for poetry, one for fiction. Major is a contributor to many periodicals and anthologies in the USA, Europe, South America and Africa. He has served as judge for The National Book Awards, the PEN-Faulkner Award and twice for the National Endowment for The Arts. Major has traveled extensively and lived in various parts of the United States and for extended periods in France and Italy. He has lectured and read his work in dozens of U. S. universities as well as in England, France, Liberia, West Germany, Ghana, and Italy.

Reviews

[Troy S · Rating 2 out of 5]

A black New Yorker's Bataille when at its best, but this ultimately reads as an incredibly disappointing internal monologues written by an overly-chauvinistic high-schooler stuck in a love triangle, punctuated by 20-page blowjobs using inventive new terms for the various genitals and vague, not always effective personal drama and violence. A bit indulgent, made me wonder what an an alternative to this "unexpurgated" edition would look like.

[Tobi J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really surprised that I finished this book. I read it without expectations, can I give a clear description of what the story’s about? nope lol, but did I enjoy following along with the main character’s journey / drama / sexual escapades? absolutely.

Will gladly read more of Clarence Major’s works.