John henry days - colson whitehead

From the author of The Intuitionist comes a retelling of the legend of John Henry that sweeps across generations and cultures in a stunning, hilarious, and unsettling portrait of American society.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Underground Railroad Colson Whiteheads 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 its 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.

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.