Stepin Fetchit

The Life & Times of Lincoln Perry

By Mel Watkins | Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

About the book

In the late 1920s and '30s Lincoln Perry, aka Stepin Fetchit, was both renowned and reviled for his surrealistic portrayals of the era’s most popular comic stereotype–the lazy, shiftless Negro. Perry was hailed by critic Robert Benchley as “the best actor that the talking movies have produced,” and Mel Watkins’s meticulously researched and sensitive biography reveals the paradoxes of this pioneering actor’s life, from Perry’s tremendous popularity to his money troubles and rowdy offscreen antics. As later generations come to recognize Perry’s prodigious talent and achievements, in Stepin Fetchit, Mel Watkins brilliantly and definitively illuminates the life and times of a legendary figure in American entertainment.

Editions of Stepin Fetchit

Hardcover
ISBN 9780345454249
Hardcover
ISBN 9780375423826
Paperback
ISBN 9781400096763
EBook
ISBN 9780307547507

Read an Excerpt

In the late 1920s and '30s Lincoln Perry, aka Stepin Fetchit, was both renowned and reviled for his surrealistic portrayals of the era’s most popular comic stereotype–the lazy, shiftless Negro. Perry was hailed by critic Robert Benchley as “the best actor that the talking movies have produced,” and Mel Watkins’s meticulously researched and sensitive biography reveals the paradoxes of this pioneering actor’s life, from Perry’s tremendous popularity to his money troubles and rowdy offscreen antics. As later generations come to recognize Perry’s prodigious talent and achievements, in Stepin Fetchit, Mel Watkins brilliantly and definitively illuminates the life and times of a legendary figure in American entertainment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stepin Fetchit about?

In the late 1920s and '30s Lincoln Perry, aka Stepin Fetchit, was both renowned and reviled for his surrealistic portrayals of the era’s most popular comic stereotype–the lazy, shiftless Negro. Perry was hailed by critic Robert Benchley as “the best actor that the talking movies have produced,” and Mel Watkins’s meticulously researched and sensitive biography reveals the paradoxes of this pioneering actor’s life, from Perry’s tremendous popularity to his money troubles and rowdy offscreen antics. As later generations come to recognize Perry’s prodigious talent and achievements, in Stepin Fetchit, Mel Watkins brilliantly and definitively illuminates the life and times of a legendary figure in American entertainment.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Stepin Fetchit?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: arts and entertainment

Where can I read a sample of Stepin Fetchit?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780345454249

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Stepin Fetchit?

Mel Watkins

Who is the Publisher of the book Stepin Fetchit?

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Stepin Fetchit is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780345454249) and hardcover(ISBN 9780375423826) and paperback(ISBN 9781400096763) and ebook(ISBN 9780307547507)

Where can I buy Stepin Fetchit online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Stepin Fetchit from below

Where can I buy Stepin Fetchit?