Fearless and Free - by Josephine Baker (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Published in English for the first time, this is the memoir of the fabulous, rule-breaking, one-of-a-kind Josephine Baker"--

Book Synopsis

**A February LibraryReads Notable Nonfiction Bonus Pick**

"A gorgeous, captivating gem of a memoir...Josephine Baker's as enthralling on the page as she was on the stage." --Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author of Eden Undone and Sin in the Second City

Published in the US for the first time, Fearless and Free is the memoir of the fabulous, rule-breaking, one-of-a-kind Josephine Baker, the iconic dancer, singer, spy, and Civil Rights activist.

After stealing the spotlight as a teenaged Broadway performer during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, Josephine then took Paris by storm, dazzling audiences across the Roaring Twenties. In her famous banana skirt, she enraptured royalty and countless fans--Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso among them. She strolled the streets of Paris with her pet cheetah wearing a diamond collar. With her signature flapper bob and enthralling dance moves, she was one of the most recognizable women in the world.

When World War II broke out, Josephine became a decorated spy for the French Résistance. Her celebrity worked as her cover, as she hid spies in her entourage and secret messages in her costumes as she traveled. She later joined the Civil Rights movement in the US, boycotting segregated concert venues, and speaking at the March on Washington alongside Martin Luther King Jr.

First published in France in 1949, her memoir will now finally be published in English. At last we can hear Josephine in her own voice: charming, passionate, and brave. Her words are thrilling and intimate, like she's talking with her friends over after-show drinks in her dressing room. Through her own telling, we come to know a woman who danced to the top of the world and left her unforgettable mark on it.

Review Quotes

"In Fearless and Free, Josephine Baker--groundbreaking performer, audacious spy, and unflinching Civil Rights activist--shares intimate details of her life and times, proving she's as enthralling on the page as she was on the stage. This gorgeous, captivating gem of a memoir will both introduce Baker to a new generation of readers, and cement her legacy as an enduring international icon."
--Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author of Eden Undone and Sin in the Second City

"Fearless and Free is a remarkable story of a remarkable woman. Reading Josephine Baker's life in her own words is like having the world's greatest tour guide to pivotal movements in history. The book allowed me to see the Roaring Twenties, World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement with fresh eyes. It is everything you hope a memoir could be."
--Matthew F. Delmont, author of New York Times Notable Book Half American

"While Josephine Baker is likely best known as an iconic and pathbreaking dancer and performer, this fascinating memoir, Fearless and Free, reveals that she was just as accomplished intellectually and strategically as a lieutenant for the French Resistance in World War II and civil rights activist. All the while, she gave her time, energy, and money to those more vulnerable than herself. Born in St. Louis, grown into one of France's greatest entertainers, Baker's story illustrates the ways that Black womanhood and the constant search for freedom fuels unimaginable feats. What an astonishingly beautiful life Josephine Baker lived. I am so grateful that she shared her life, her love, and her story with all of us. This book is a gift."
--Jenn M. Jackson, PhD, author of Black Women Taught Us

"At long last, we can now immerse ourselves in Josephine Baker's dazzling world. In between snapshots of her American childhood and European coming-of-age, Baker regales us with chatty asides about friendship, food, fashion, and her unyielding love of animals. Fearless and Free breaks the mold of a memoir; it's a story about a true original, told in an original fashion."
--Tamara J. Walker, author of New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Beyond the Shores

"A vivid impression of her ebullient personality, extravagant love for animals, and overflowing generosity."
--Kirkus

"The memoir captures how Baker thinks and feels (her empathy for suffering people comes up often) and her philosophies of life and performance...This dialogue with Baker revels in her poetic and often humorous way of speaking."
--Library Journal

About the Author

Josephine Baker (1906-1975) was a Broadway performer, dancer, and singer who headlined across Europe, and the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture. She served as a spy for the French Résistance, earning honors for her valor. She was a Civil Rights activist who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. She passed away in 1975, and in 2021 Baker became the first Black woman to enter France's Panthéon.