John Henry

Roark Bradford''s 1931 novel and 1939 play dealing with the legendary folk-hero John Henry (both titled John Henry) were extremely influential in their own time but have since then been nearly forgotten. Steven C. Tracy has united these hard-to-find works in a single critical edition that helps contextualize-and revive-both texts. An expansive introduction explores Bradford''s life; recounts critical responses to his works; and surveys John Henry''s pervasive influence in folk literary and popular culture. The volume also features a wide array of supplementary materials including a selected bibliography and discography transcriptions of folksong texts and recordings available during the 1930s and a chronology of the lives of both Bradford and Henry. As Tracy''s introduction makes clear such a consideration of Bradford--set in the context of writers both black and white drawing upon African American folklore and using dialects along with stereotypical and non-stereotypical portrayals--is long overdue. This new edition is a windfall for scholars and students of folklore and African American literature.