Catherine Reef 
Life of Paul Laurence Dunbar 
Portrait of a Poet

"I know why the caged bird sings, " wrote Paul Laurence Dunbar in "Sympathy, " one of his best-loved poems. Author Catherine Reef paints a rich and memorable portrait of the first African American to earn his living as a writer. Born in 1872 to former slaves, Dunbar touched the nation with poetry that portrayed the sorrows and the joys of African-American life. Dunbar’s work spoke directly to the hearts of his readers, and his legacy inspired the generation of African-American poets who followed.