Description
Book SynopsisThe 1930s and 1940s represented an era in United States history when large groups of citizens took political action in response to their social and economic circumstances. The vision, attitudes, beliefs and purposes of participants before, during, and after this time period played an important part of American cultural history. Richard and JoAnne Reuss expertly capture the personality of this era and the fascinating chronology of events in American Folk Music and Left-Wing Politics, 1927-1957, a historical analysis of singers, writers, union members and organizers and their connection to left-wing politics and folk music during this revolutionary time period. While scholarship on folk music, history, and politics is not unique in and of itself, Reuss'' approach is noteworthy for its folklorist perspective and its long, encompassing assessment of a broad cross-section of participants and their interactions. An innovative and informative look into one of the most evocative and challeng
Trade ReviewIt's a solid dissertation, impeccably researched... * Dirty Linen *
At long last Richard Reuss's seminal study of this important era in folk music is available in book form. The book is a goldmine of names, places, songs, and events surrounding the various protest movements in the US from the late 1920s through the end of the '50s...An excellent bibliography and index add to the immense value of this work...Recommended for all collections. * CHOICE *
...the strength of the work lies in the abundance of interviews that Reuss conducted with American musicians and political activists, many of whom have since died. Furthermore, the question posed in the work about the relationship between folk music and left-wing politics has a resonance in today's "culture wars" and in issues of who controls the media and popular culture. It should appeal to historians interested in music, folklore, or the interplay between culture and politics...an invaluable work. * History *
Reuss's book gives a clear and objective view of the revivalist movement, valuing its contribution to the American musical scene while conceding the limitations of its political vision...The book is readable and appropriately witty in handling the Lomax artists' sometimes muddled politics and personal foibles. * Western Folklore *
This book will appeal to readers with a love of history, and fans of North American traditional music. It should also interest anyone with an interest in the relationship between the commercial enterprise of music and living or revived folk traditions...well researched. * Greenman Review *
