0Maya Angelou's unforgettable autobiography, nominated for the National Book Award in 1969, recounts her struggle as a young black woman to overcome obstacles and realize her dreams. A meditation on themes of empowerment and self-actualization, it has emerged as a modern classic. This new collection of concise critical excerpts features an introduction from master critic Harold Bloom, an annotated biography of Angelou's myriad works, and an index.