NEW YORK — Renowned actor Courtney B. Vance has taken on the role of narrator for the inaugural audio version of one of the most celebrated literary biographies in recent decades. This biography, authored by David Levering Lewis, delves into the life of W.E.B. Du Bois, a renowned scholar, author, and civil rights advocate, presented in a two-volume series. The first of these audio editions is set to be released on June 17.
In a statement shared by Simon & Schuster Audio, Vance expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “As an admirer of history, W.E.B. Du Bois’s renowned biography captured my interest. It has been a privilege and a deeply fulfilling endeavor to have the opportunity to bring Du Bois’s legacy to life for new audiences through narration.”
Lewis has received considerable recognition for his work, earning Pulitzer Prizes for each volume: “W.E.B. Du Bois: Biography of a Race, 1868–1919,” which debuted in 1993, and “W. E. B. Du Bois: The Fight for Equality and the American Century, 1919–1963,” published in 2000. The author expressed his satisfaction with his works becoming accessible in an audio format, stating, “It feels almost surreal that this has come to fruition,” he explained. “By listening to Courtney B. Vance, one can experience the spoken insights of an American figure of immense stature, a visionary man of color whose 95 years thoroughly examined all facets of intellectual, political, economic, and racial decisions.”
