Just Above My Head is James Baldwin's sixth and last novel, first published in 1979. He wrote it in his house in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France. Plot introduction The novel tells the life story of a group of friends, from preaching in Harlem, through to experiencing "incest, war, poverty, the civil-rights struggle, as well as wealth and love and fame—in Korea, Africa, Birmingham, New York City, Paris." Characters Arthur Montana, a gay man who becomes the world-famous "Emperor of Soul". He started out in a quartet, the Trumpets of Zion. Hall Montana, Arthur's brother, a married man in his forties. Ruth Granger, Hall's wife. Hall met her at a fundraiser. Paul Montana, Arthur and Hall's late father. He was born in Tallahassee, Florida, grew up in New Orleans, moved to California and finally to New York City. Florence Montana, Hall and Arthur's mother. Tony, Hall's son. Odessa, Hall's daughter. Faulkner, a masochistic white man Arthur knew. Crunch, Arthur's lover. He was a member of the Trumpets of Zion. His real name was Jason Hogan. Red, a member of the Trumpets of Zion. He has become a drug addict and been to prison several times. Lorna, Red's wife. She has left him, with their two sons. Peanut, a member of the Trumpets of Zion. He was later murdered. Jimmy, a neighbour of the Montanas when they were younger. Julia, Jimmy's sister. Brother Joel Miller, Julia's and Jimmy's father. Amy Miller, Julia's and Jimmy's mother. She dies shortly after a miscarriage. Reverend Parker, Julia's Evangelist reverend when she was younger. Mrs Bessie, a blind old black woman whom Julia took to the church when she was younger. Sidney, a bartender. He was brought up by his grandmother, who died recently. Martha, a young woman who works at the Harlem Hospital. She is Hall's ex-girlfriend. Her aunt, Josephine, is from the West Indies. Mr Clarence Webster, a black music teacher and impresario for the Trumpets of Zion. Sister Dorothy Green. Blanche, Hall's landlady. Faulkner Grey, a coworker of Hall's. Mrs Isabel Reed, a high school teacher from Richmond. Mr Reed, a lawyer from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Reverend Williams, a preacher from Richmond. Mrs Elkins, a hostess in Atlanta, Georgia. Guy Lazar, a ginger-haired French man Arthur dates in Paris. Major themes The novel enmeshes racism with homophobia, with an "explicit association of Birmingham and Sodom". Allusions to other works Julia is listening to Esther Phillips's From