Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”

Timeless: Stories from the Library of Congress

05/26/2026 02:15 PM EDT

Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" created a stir when it was published in 1952 and is still regarded as a masterpiece of American literature. Here, you can see some of his edits to the famous opening lines. The Library preserves Ellison's papers, including manuscript copies and drafts of the novel.

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