SOURCE: "Soul on Fire," in New York Times, Vol. 118, February 26, 1969, p. 45.

[In the following review, Lehmann-Haupt appraises the insights of Post-Prison Writings and Speeches.]

Late in November, 1968, Eldridge Cleaver disappeared from the view of the American public and the prison authorities of the state of California. He left behind him a brief and dazzling career as an author, journalist and militant black leader; a lot of friends and admirers; and a number of unanswered questions. This book, Eldridge Cleaver: Post-Prison Writings and Speeches—while it consists of hastily written journalism and speeches that appeared in Ramparts magazine, and was pieced together in Cleaver's absence by Robert Scheer, former Ramparts editor—serves to bring Cleaver's brief career into focus and answer a good many of the questions.

Readers of Cleaver's prison notes, Soul on Ice, will know that while he was in jail he came to regard the criminal...