ARGONAUT BOOKS

Bessie Smith lived a life of extremes, of success as a great blues singer, and of great personal tragedy. Jackie Kay's biography concentrates on her torrid personal and public life of female lovers, an unhappy marriage and hard drinking. Reviews Jackie Kay's book on Bessie Smith: She has combined biographical information with a total understanding of who Bessie actually WAS. Jackie shows an empathy unusual in a biographer, the writing being enhanced by the fact that its author is also a stellar poet. Biographies don't usually bring the subject to life again. This one...Read More