{"product_id":"steel-drivin-man-john-henry-the-untold-story-of-an-american-legend-9780195341195","title":"Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend","description":"The ballad \"John Henry\" is the most recorded folk song in American history and John Henry--the mighty railroad man who could blast through rock faster than a steam drill--is a towering figure in our culture. \u003cbr\u003e In \u003cem\u003eSteel Drivin' Man\u003c\/em\u003e, Scott Reynolds Nelson recounts the true story of the man behind the iconic American hero, telling the poignant tale of a young Virginia convict who died working on one of the most dangerous enterprises of the time, the first rail route through the Appalachian Mountains. Using census data, penitentiary reports, and railroad company reports, Nelson reveals how John Henry, victimized by Virginia's notorious Black Codes, was shipped to the infamous Richmond Penitentiary to become prisoner number 497, and was forced to labor on the mile-long Lewis Tunnel for the C\u0026amp;O railroad. Equally important, Nelson masterfully captures the life of the ballad of John Henry, tracing the song's evolution from the first printed score by blues legend W. C. Handy, to Carl Sandburg's use of the ballad to become the first \"folk singer,\" to the upbeat version by Tennessee Ernie Ford.\u003cbr\u003e Attractively illustrated with numerous images, \u003cem\u003eSteel Drivin' Man\u003c\/em\u003e offers a marvelous portrait of a beloved folk song--and a true American legend. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Oxford University Press, USA\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/04\/2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780195341195\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 214\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.65lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.55h x 5.48w x 0.56d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/12\/2008 pg. 32\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Scott Reynolds Nelson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36635106771100,"sku":"9780195341195","price":14.43,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_1a91c162-3f7a-4e3f-9af5-3b315cb502d9.jpg?v=1603838572","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/steel-drivin-man-john-henry-the-untold-story-of-an-american-legend-9780195341195","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}