Reading and Interpreting the Works of Maya Angelou

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you." Maya Angelou's words in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings reveal her own need to tell stories, a lifelong passion that manifested itself in the form of memoirs and poetry as well as essays, film, and music. This unique guide includes in-depth literary analysis of some of Angelou's most famous writings, while an examination of her fascinating life provides a greater understanding of this storyteller who shed new light on the African American experience.