New York: The Macmillan Company, 1936. First Edition. 242pp. Hardcover: NEAR FINE. Dust Wrapper: VERY GOOD. Book is in spectacular condition; an owner’s bookplate on the front paste-down and a pencil mark on the rear paste-down; else fine. The wrapper has some color loss, chipping and tears to the front cover and spine. Uncommon.

Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter), of Cherokee ancestry, who became famous for his voice and guitar-playing. He was convicted of murder and assault and escaped prison various times, and caught, went back to prison various times, often serving hard labor on chain gangs, but then getting reprieves because of his artistic ability. The Lomaxes annotate some of his best known songs and supplement that with a biographical sketch of the man.