Furious cool : Richard Pryor and the world that made him / David Henry and Joe Henry.
Richard Pryor was arguably the single most influential performer of the second half of the twentieth century, and certainly he was the most successful black actor/comedian ever. Controversial and somewhat enigmatic in his lifetime, Pryor's performances opened up a new world of possibilities, merging fantasy with angry reality in a way that wasn't just new--it was heretofore unthinkable. His childhood in Peoria, Illinois, was spent just trying to survive. Yet the culture into which Richard Pryor was born--his mother was a prostitute; his grandmother ran the whorehouse--helped him evolve into one of the most innovative and outspoken performers ever, a man who attracted admiration and anger in equal parts. Both a brilliant comedian and a very astute judge of what he could get away with, Pryor was always pushing the envelope, combining anger and pathos, outrage and humor, into an art form, laying the groundwork for the generations of comedians who followed, including such outstanding performers as Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Louis C.K. Now, in this groundbreaking and revelatory work, Joe and David Henry bring him to life both as a man and as an artist, providing an in-depth appreciation of his talent and his lasting influence, as well as an insightful examination of the world he lived in and the influences that shaped both his persona and his art.--Publisher's description.
Record details
- ISBN: 1616200782
- ISBN: 9781616200787
- Physical Description: xx, 297 pages ; 24 cm
- Edition: First edition
- Publisher: Chapel Hill, North Carolina : Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2013.
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Part 1 -- A Native Son of Wistful Vista 3 -- "There's a Bad Muthafucka Comin' Your Way" 22 -- Backing Up While Swimming 30 -- "Ain't That Many of Us to Go Around" 40 -- Part 2 -- "Give Me Some Milk or Else Go Home" 51 -- A Way Out of Here Other Than That Door 72 -- Monday, December 22, 1969 95 -- Part 3 -- There's a Riot Goin' On 107 -- Word Made Flesh 118 -- A Screaming Comes across the Sky 126 -- "Nigger, Come Out of That Black Skin and Be Black, Nigger" 132 -- "Let It Stay Heavy if Not Hard" 145 -- Part 4 -- "I See That Man in My Mind and Go with Him" 161 -- "There's a Person Here That's Possessed" 176 -- "Let's Get Him before Somebody Else Does" 187 -- Surrender, Richard 198 -- "You Hollywood Faggots Can Kiss My Rich Happy Black Ass" 207 -- "Does It Look Like I'm Smiling to You, Motherfucker?" 211 -- "When You Get off That Stage, There's a Loneliness That Comes over You" 217 -- "My Mind's Thinking About Shit I Don't Want to Be Thinkin' About" 226 -- Part 5 -- "The Part of Me That Wanted to Die Did" 239 -- Is Comedy Stand-Up Poetry? 247 -- "I Guess That's a Smile. I Hope That's His Face" 249 -- "I'm Finding It Hard Imitating Richard Pryor" 259 -- Last Temptation of Richard 264.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Pryor, Richard, 1940-2005.
Comedians > United States > Biography.
Motion picture actors and actresses > United States > Biography. - Genre:
- Biographies.
Available copies
- 13 of 13 copies available at NC Cardinal.
- 2 of 2 copies available at Onslow County Public Library. (Show)
Holds
- 0 current holds with 13 total copies.
Other Formats and Editions
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Main Library | BIO PRYOR (Text) | 36015000710729 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Sneads Ferry Branch Library | BIO PRYOR (Text)
Public Note: DONATED BY FRIENDS OF THE SNEADS FERRY LIBRARY
|
36015001199849 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Albemarle Main Library | B Pryor (Text) | 31010000460685 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Carver School Road Branch | B PRYOR, RICHARD (Text) | 0112519886231 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Donald A. Bonner Rowland Library | B PRYOR (Text) | 34510000511491 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| East Asheville Library | B PRYOR (Text) | 0020510041781 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Henderson Main Branch | PRYOR (Text) | 33258007250223 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Leath Memorial Library | B PRYOR H (Text) | 58198000727696 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center | B PRYOR, RICHARD (Text) | 0112519886223 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
| Mocksville | B PRYOR (Text) | 39872001613311 | Adult Biography | Available | - |
Accessibility Features
Summary:
Richard Pryor was arguably the single most influential performer of the second half of the twentieth century, and certainly he was the most successful black actor/comedian ever. Controversial and somewhat enigmatic in his lifetime, Pryor's performances opened up a new world of possibilities, merging fantasy with angry reality in a way that wasn't just new--it was heretofore unthinkable. His childhood in Peoria, Illinois, was spent just trying to survive. Yet the culture into which Richard Pryor was born--his mother was a prostitute; his grandmother ran the whorehouse--helped him evolve into one of the most innovative and outspoken performers ever, a man who attracted admiration and anger in equal parts. Both a brilliant comedian and a very astute judge of what he could get away with, Pryor was always pushing the envelope, combining anger and pathos, outrage and humor, into an art form, laying the groundwork for the generations of comedians who followed, including such outstanding performers as Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Louis C.K. Now, in this groundbreaking and revelatory work, Joe and David Henry bring him to life both as a man and as an artist, providing an in-depth appreciation of his talent and his lasting influence, as well as an insightful examination of the world he lived in and the influences that shaped both his persona and his art.--Publisher's description.
