Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend

Very interesting narrative that brings a song and myth of late Civil War and antebellum African American experience to life. As a resident of southern Virginia, it was very exciting to recognize the places that the real live John Henry's life touched.

As someone interested in history, the South, civil rights, and folk songs, I loved this book. The author starts by tracking down evidence to propose a candidate for the original John Henry who inspired the song. The author then fills in the details of what John Henry's life after arrest was probably like based on court, prison, and railroad records. Certainly, this part is speculative, as some reviewers have complained, but there is no reason a priori to expect that John Henry's experiences were significantly different from the norm. Besides, the discussion of the horrifying conditions the railroad builders and workers endured is eye-opening. Much of the latter portion of the book discusses how the song spread and the meaning it had at different times and to different groups. The author obviously did extensive research and creates a fascinating portrait of how a song mutates to suit current times.

I really liked this book. Most Americans will remember the story of John Henry from their youth, but most will also be surprised that he was an actual flesh-and-blood person. The author brings the story to life, and, even though I never imagined I'd read a whole book on this subjct, I found myself carried along. It's a terrific book and I really recommend it.