{"product_id":"john-henry-and-his-people-the-historical-origin-and-lore-of-americas-great-folk-ballad-paperback","title":"John Henry and His People: The Historical Origin and Lore of America's Great Folk Ballad - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJohn Garst\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe song John Henry, perhaps America's greatest folk ballad, is about an African-American steel driver who raced and beat a steam drill, dying with his hammer in his hand from the effort. Most singers and historians believe John Henry was a real person, not a fictitious one, and that his story took place in West Virginia--though other places have been proposed. John Garst argues convincingly that it took place near Dunnavant, Alabama, in 1887. The author's reconstruction, based on contemporaneous evidence and subsequent research, uncovers a fascinating story that supports the Dunnavant location and provides new insights. Beyond John Henry, readers will discover the lives and work of his people: Black and white singers; his captain, contractor Frederick Dabney; C. C. Spencer, the most credible eyewitness; John Henry's wife; the blind singer W. T. Blankenship, who printed the first broadside of the ballad; and later scholars who studied John Henry. The book includes analyses of the song's numerous iterations, several previously unpublished illustrations and a foreword by folklorist Art Rosenbaum.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eProfessor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Georgia, \u003cb\u003eJohn Garst\u003c\/b\u003e has been active in folk music research and field recording since the 1960s. Besides his study of \"John Henry\" he is an authority on shape-note hymnody and is noted for discovering the historical bases of ballads like \"Delia\" and \"Ella Speed.\" He lives in Durham, North Carolina.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 281\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.9 x 8.8 x 5.9 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e December 28, 2021\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51784634990880,"sku":"9781476686110","price":71.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/f48d6c90b1acb968fba957c18d641552.webp?v=1780606353","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/john-henry-and-his-people-the-historical-origin-and-lore-of-americas-great-folk-ballad-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}