In this minutely detailed, comprehensive chronology, authors Kiuchi and Hakutani document the life in letters of one of the great African American writers of the twentieth century. The author of Black Boy and Native Son, among other works, Wright wrote unflinchingly about the black experience in the United States, where his books still influence discussions of race. Entries are documented by Wright's journals, articles, and other works published and unpublished, as well as his letters to and from friends and associates.

Part One covers Wright's life through the year 1946, the period in which he published his best-known work. Part Two covers the final two decades of his life, a prolific period that saw him publish travel writing, novels, and four works of nonfiction. Each part begins with a historical and critical introduction.