WeenieCampbell.com
Country Blues => Weenie Campbell Main Forum => Books and Articles => Topic started by: outfidel on November 11, 2006, 01:52:42 PM
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Folklore Made Flesh (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/books/reviews/4274196.html)
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Looks like a real good read that one.
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http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Drivin-Man-Untold-American/dp/0195300106 (http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Drivin-Man-Untold-American/dp/0195300106)
I'm reading this now and finding it quite absorbing. GOD! What a total anarchistic MESS reconstruction was! Thats a big part of the stage set for this story about one John Henry a 5'1" 19 year old native of Elizabeth New Jersey who fell afoul of some pretty baroque and shady legal applications in Richmond Virginia and ended up as forced prisoner labor for the C & O railroad. I've yet to come to the part where the author, and a damned good writer he is too, proves conclusively that the diminutive John Henry so far depicted is the famous "Steel Drivin' Man" of legend and song, but It seems to be going that way with an inevitability that is pretty convincing. Highly recommended half way in.
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I was given it as a Xmas gift in 2006 and you won't be disappointed by the time you reach the end.
There's a guy by the name of John Garst, an Emeritus chemist at the University of Georgia, who has spent decades researching John Henry. Google his name with John Henry and it should reveal some of his "papers" on the subject.
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It's a good read, Phil--Thanks for your post. It's due for a re-read on my part, given that my mind is like a steel...sieve. You might check out John Garst's work and writings on the subject. Over the years he has shared them via the Pre-War Blues Group. A couple of his articles are mentioned on the Amazon review pages:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R31LPNE7W3C2QY/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0195300106&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=#wasThisHelpful (http://www.amazon.com/review/R31LPNE7W3C2QY/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0195300106&nodeID=&tag=&linkCode=#wasThisHelpful)
Edited to add: Alan's post appeared while I was typing mine up, but in the interest of redundancy, I'm posting it anyway. :P
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The book was an interesting read and well written. I think that the author has let his imagination go a bit and wants that to be THE John Henry. Like I say, good read, but probably NOT the Gospel on the subject. It's available from Amazon DIRT CHEAP from the used/cut-out places... less than a buck!
pbl
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Yes. I just got a copy for ?2 (+?2 postage). I read John Garst's work a couple of years ago so it'll be interesting to get another angle.