Fearless and Free

Praise

“In Fearless and Free, Josephine Baker—groundbreaking performer, audacious spy, and unflinching Civil Rights activist—shares intimate details of her life and times, proving she’s as enthralling on the page as she was on the stage. This gorgeous, captivating gem of a memoir will both introduce Baker to a new generation of readers, and cement her legacy as an enduring international icon.”
—Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author of Eden Undone and Sin in the Second City
 
“Fearless and Free is a remarkable story of a remarkable woman.  Reading Josephine Baker’s life in her own words is like having the world’s greatest tour guide to pivotal movements in history.  The book allowed me to see the Roaring Twenties, World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement with fresh eyes.  It is everything you hope a memoir could be.”
—Matthew F. Delmont, author of New York Times Notable Book Half American
 
“While Josephine Baker is likely best known as an iconic and pathbreaking dancer and performer, this fascinating memoir, Fearless and Free, reveals that she was just as accomplished intellectually and strategically as a lieutenant for the French Resistance in World War II and civil rights activist. All the while, she gave her time, energy, and money to those more vulnerable than herself. Born in St. Louis, grown into one of France’s greatest entertainers, Baker’s story illustrates the ways that Black womanhood and the constant search for freedom fuels unimaginable feats. What an astonishingly beautiful life Josephine Baker lived. I am so grateful that she shared her life, her love, and her story with all of us. This book is a gift.”
—Jenn M. Jackson, PhD, author of Black Women Taught Us

“At long last, we can now immerse ourselves in Josephine Baker’s dazzling world. In between snapshots of her American childhood and European coming-of-age, Baker regales us with chatty asides about friendship, food, fashion, and her unyielding love of animals. Fearless and Free breaks the mold of a memoir; it’s a story about a true original, told in an original fashion.”
—Tamara J. Walker, author of New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice Beyond the Shores

“A vivid impression of her ebullient personality, extravagant love for animals, and overflowing generosity.”
—Kirkus