in exchange for a $250 advance ($ today) and a further $750 ($ today) paid when the final manuscript was completed. After the final draft was accepted, Baldwin published excerpts of the novel in two publications: one excerpt was published as "Exodus" in American Mercury and the other as "Roy's Wound" in New World Writing. Baldwin set sail back to Europe on August 28 and Go Tell It On The Mountain was published in May 1953. Structure and synopsis Go Tell It on the Mountain has a nonlinear structure. The story takes place during one twenty-four hour period, but contains extended flashbacks which cover a period of over 70 years. The novel is focused on John Grimes, but narrative voice shifts between characters' perspectives, allowing access to the thoughts and reminiscences of John's father, mother, and aunt. The novel is divided into three parts, with the second part further subdivided into three: "Part One: The Seventh Day", "Part Two: The Prayer of the Saints-Florence's Prayer", "Part Two: The Prayer of the Saints-Gabriel's Prayer", "Part Two: The Prayer of the Saints-Elizabeth's Prayer", and, finally, "Part Three: The Threshing-Floor". The first and final parts mainly follow John's thoughts with glimpses of the thoughts of others, while the sections in Part Two mainly follow the thoughts of the character for whom they are named. Part One In Part One, John wakes up on his birthday. As he does his chores, he thinks about his relationship with his domineering father, who does not seem to love him, and with the storefront church at which his father is a sometimes preacher. His younger half-brother Roy also resents his father's strictness, but unlike John has begun to rebel by running with a rough crowd. Once John has finished his chores, his mother Elizabeth gives him some money for his birthday and he goes out. He walks through Central Park and down Fifth Avenue, before going into a movie theater to watch a film. John returns home to find that Roy has gone with some neighborhood boys to pick a fight and has been cut with a knife. John's stepfather Gabriel returns home. Gabriel is angry. He lashes out and looks for someone to blame besides Roy. Gabriel's sister Florence and Elizabeth object that no one is to blame but Roy since he went out to pick the fight. Gabriel strikes Elizabeth causing Roy to challenge and