From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Underground Railroad Colson Whitehead's triumphant novel is on one level a multifaceted retelling of the story of John Henry, the black steel-driver who died outracing a machine designed to replace him. On another level it's the story of a disaffected, middle-aged black journalist on a mission to set a record for junketeering who attends the annual John Henry Days festival. It is also a high-velocity thrill ride through the tunnel where American legend gives way to American pop culture, replete with p. r. flacks, stamp collectors, blues men, and turn-of-the-century song pluggers.
John Henry Days is an acrobatic, intellectually dazzling, and laugh-out-loud funny book that will be read and talked about for years to come.
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Anchor Books
Published: 05/14/2002
ISBN: 9780385498203
Pages: 400
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.16w x 0.83d
Review Citations: BookPage 05/01/2002 pg. 25
New York Times 05/12/2002 pg. 28
Commonweal 06/20/2003 pg. 23
Village Voice 04/29/2009 pg. 35