The best of Simple / by Langston Hughes ; illustrated by Bernhard Nast.

A selection of the author's favorite stories chosen from three of his books: "Simple Speaks his Mind," "Simple Takes a Wife," and "Simple Stakes a Claim."

Foreword : Who is Simple? -- Feet live their own life -- Landladies -- Simple prays a prayer -- Conversation on the corner -- Simple on Indian blood -- A toast to Harlem -- Simple and his sins -- Temptation -- Wooing the muse -- Vacation -- Letting off steam -- Jealousy -- Banquet in honor -- A veteran falls -- High bed -- Final fear -- There ought to be a law -- Income tax -- No alternative -- Springtime -- Last whipping -- Seeing double -- Simple on military integration -- Blue evening -- A letter from Baltimore -- Seven rings -- What can a man say? -- Empty room -- Picture for her dresser -- Cocktail sip -- Apple strudel -- Bop -- Formals and funerals -- Fancy free -- Midsummer madness -- Morals is her middle name -- They come and they go -- A million : and one -- Two loving arms -- All in the family -- Kick for punt -- Subway to Jamaica -- No tea for the fever -- Boys, birds, and bees -- On the warpath -- A hearty amen -- Must have a seal -- Shadow of the blues -- Once in a wife-time -- Present for Joyce -- Christmas song -- Tied in a bow -- Sometimes I wonder -- Four rings -- Simply love -- Bang-up big end -- Duty is not snooty -- Bones, bombs, chicken necks -- A dog named Trilby -- Enter Cousin Minnie -- Radioactive red caps -- Two sides not enough -- Puerto Ricans -- Minnie again -- Vicious circle -- Again Cousin Minnie -- Name in print -- Minnie one more time -- An auto-obituary -- Jazz, jive, and jam.