This was a very interesting book about the real life and legends of John Henry and how the songs about him inspired and created new things in peoples lives and cultures around them. John Henry was a steel drivin' man John Henry was a steel drivin' man He died in West Virginia With his hammer in his hand They sing about him all across the land John Henry was a steel drivin' man He beat the steam drill down and then he died He beat the steam drill down and then he died And it didn't change nothin' But heaven knows he tried In "Steel Drivin' Man," Mr. Nelson not onlytells of his discovery of Henry's grave, but also explores the history of theman, and the rise of his myth in both story and song." The section on the early communist movement co-opting the image of John Henry for their posters and magazine covers was the most interesting part of the whole book to me, and probably the only time I really felt like I was reading the book I wanted. In Steel Drivin' Man, Scott Reynolds Nelson recounts the true story of the man behind the iconic American hero, telling the poignant tale of a young Virginia convict who died working on one of the most dangerous enterprises of the time, the first rail route through the Appalachian Mountains. *Disclaimer: Scott was my advisor in grad school*. This book is about more than trying to unearth a man behind a legend -- although Reynolds asserts to literally do just that -- it explains how the nexus of reconstruction, railroad construction, and southern resurrection affected American culture and stratified the nation in several ways: ultimately giving birth to the industrial revolution, the civil rights conflicts and perhaps rock and roll. Yet, I know of the story like it is my own, unaware that it is Americana in a way that, perhaps, no other legend is or can be. Steel Drivin Man tells the story behind the well known figure of John Henry. Picture a room full of smiling school children singing, "911 Is a Joke" and you'll get an idea of just how much you don't understand about the legend of John Henry. Nelson tracks down the real person on whom the story is based, a Virginia prisoner working. Historians have long speculated that the John Henry … He used a 14-pound hammer to drill, some historians believe, 10 to 20 feet in a 12-hour day- … Some fantastic music passages about the role of work songs. Yet, I know of the story like it is my own, unaware that it is Americana in a way that, perhaps, no other legend is or can be. John Henry, the Steel Drivin' Man. While it would be nice to know for certain that the one known photo is of the "real" John Henry, the factual information about both the circumstances that led to the original story and the reasons and ways the song and story spread were fascinating. I really loved this book when I started it, because it sets out to be both about the historical John Henry and about the way historians "do" history in a way that captured the puzzle-solving feel of it and the click when things fit together quite well. He sets this tale of personal tragedy against the backdrop of the Reconstruction-era South - and then traces the evolution of the song (in its many permutations) through the 20th century as it came to hold different meanings in radically different communities. Unique and creative interweaving of myth, history, social analysis, and cultural critique. The story of “steel drivin’ man” John Henry is one of America’s most enduring legends. PDF. This book is about more than trying to unearth a man behind a legend -- although Reynolds asserts to literally do just that -- it explains how the nexus of reconstruction, railroad construction, and southern resurrection affected American culture and stratified the nation in several ways: ultimately giving birth to the industrial revolution, the civil rights conflict. While I am not surprised to discover that the real John Henry was nothing at all like the legendary John Henry, it is interesting to learn just how different the two men were. As the company would have coerced him to retain his services, John faked his death, and eventually came to Metropolis. Reynolds using the John Henry American Myth to unite American industrial, social and ethical consciousness in one brilliant study. in the post-war era. To see what your friends thought of this book, Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend, This is one of my favorite historical research genres--taking a well known popular culture pieces (in this case, John Henry of folksong) and reconstructs the real story--the south during Reconstruction, the easy way a corrupt government agent could make sure many able-bodied men went to jail for minor (or fabricated) offenses, and the bribes to be had from renting out prisoners to 1870s railroad projects. Steel drivin' man : John Henry, the untold story of an American legend by Nelson, Scott Reynolds. 1875, Henry, John William, 1847?-ca. The untold story is also one that is not familiar to me. He drilled holes for explosives used to blast tunnels. Using census data, penitentiary reports, and railroad company reports, Nelson reveals how John Henry, … YoshikoM This two-page read-and-understand tall tale tells how steel-drivin' man, John Henry won a contest with a machine. A steel driver worked with a partner. The last few weeks here at ASHP we’ve been reading Scott Reynolds Nelson’s Steel Drivin ‘ Man John Henry: The Untold Story of an American Legend. Be the first to ask a question about Steel Drivin' Man. The second half is a fascinating study of the evolution of the John Henry figure in popular culture. The untold story is also one that is not familiar to me. Unique and creative interweaving of myth, history, social analysis, and cultural critique. The ballad "John Henry" is the most recorded folk song in American history and John Henry--the mighty railroad man who could blast through rock faster than a steam drill--is a towering figure in our culture. In the folk ballads, the central event took place under such conditions. Immediately after the Civil War, white southerners found a way to get back some of their power and some of their slaves. The whole idea of a steel driving man whose strength outlasted a machine is something of folklore. This book told that story and it is one that I would recommend to anyone invoking John Henry, John Henry-ism, comic-book superheroes, the evolution of American folklore, and many other relics of the cultural development of the US since reconstruction. This is one of my favorite historical research genres--taking a well known popular culture pieces (in this case, John Henry of folksong) and reconstructs the real story--the south during Reconstruction, the easy way a corrupt government agent could make sure many able-bodied men went to jail for minor (or fabricated) offenses, and the bribes to be had from renting out prisoners to 1870s railroad projects. I would’ve never known such historical value and understanding could be derived from a folk tale and workers song. I liked the historical aspects of the legend too! by . Don't put it down -- because as this "train" gains speed, you will NOT want to put it down. 7. Steel-drivin' men like John Henry used large hammers and stakes to pound holes into the rock, which were then filled with explosives that would blast a cavity deeper and deeper into the mountain. by Oxford University Press, USA, Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry: the Untold Story of an American Legend. His young adult book, Ain't Nothing But a Man (written with Marc Aronson) won seven national awards, including the Jane Addams Prize for best book on social justice. According to the legend John Henry was a steel driver. my kitten Henry (is not a steel-drivin’ man) I first heard the John Henry story from the public schools, I guess, or maybe from my family, some of whom were involved in the Scouts. Thisconsistedofdriv-ing a metal spike into the rock with a hammer. The historical accuracy of many of the aspects of the John Henry legend are subject to debate. Steel Drivin' Man John Henry, The Untold Story of an American Legend Scott Reynolds Nelson "John Henry" is the most recorded folk song in American history -- there are hundreds of version of the John Henry Ballad, it is routinely taught to American schoolchildren -- the song is … From the album 'Ghosts of West Virginia,' available May 22, 2020: https://geni.us/gowvID John Henry was the greatest of hammerers, as well as the best of gamblers, the biggest of drinkers, nas-tiest of ghters, and the best of … In Steel Drivin' Man, Scott Reynolds Nelson recounts the true story of the man … As the story goes, John Henry was the strongest, fastest, most powerful man working on the rails. The legend goes that his prowess as a steel-driver led him to compete against a steam-powered rock drilling machine. Along the way, you read about everything from the the technology of blasting railroad tunnels, Appalachian African American culture, and iconic image of John Henry used by Communists, comic book artists and folksingers. Surprised he didn't talk about John Henry in children's books and films (isn't there a Disney cartoon from the 1950s?) I had no idea how much the story/legend of John Henry has been appropriated, convolved, misappropriated, re-appropriated, and given new life throughout the last 200 years of US history. This book gives a good look into the lives of the working class who really made steam and railroads the catalysts for dramatic economic and social chang. Surprised he didn't talk about John Henry in children's books and films (isn't there a Disney c. He does an excellent job reconstructing the life of John Henry (really, the lives of black convict laborers and their exploitation in the New South); he loses me with his last two chapters, especially the one tracing the visual image of John Henry into comic books. According to the ballad that made him famous, John Henry did battle with a steam-powered drill, beat the machine, and died. My favorite section is Nelson's description of the freewheeling Reconstructionist Virginia. The book does a fine job using John Henry’s life story as a background to discuss injustice in the South during reconstruction, but I’ll … I was looking for a book that would examine the history of "John Henry," the folk song, and its dissemination across America. The author tells the story of the actual historic John Henry on whom the song and legends are based. Be the first one to, Steel drivin' man : John Henry, the untold story of an American legend, Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). When the curtain is pulled aside, we see parts that are shown in pop culture but also deep roots of injustice that are hidden. It reads wonderfully because it's about a journey of discovery. His young adult book, Ain't Nothing But a Man (written with Marc Aronson) won seven national awards, including the Jane Addams Prize for best book on social ju. Talcott, West Virginia: The Legendary Steel-Drivin' Man, John Henry, at the Great Bend Tunnel The Great Bend Tunnel cuts through the Big Bend Mounta 2021-03-28 21:40:08 6 days ago On the back flap of the book it said that Cott Reynolds Nelson was going to appear on a PBS documentary about John Henry, I don't know if the documentary was made or not. The companion book, meant for children, is a model of historical methodology and would be a good piece for an undergraduate class--Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry. John Henry: The Steel Drivin’ Man There are 10 sections in this Exhibit. Furthermore, that he won the contest, only to die shortly after his victory as his heart gave out from the stress. This book told that story and it is one that I would recommend to anyone invoking John Henry, Jo. It was said that John Henry was 5 foot and 1/4 inch in height, over the years he grew to epic portions in height and body mass. The ballad "John Henry" is the most recorded folk song in American history and John Henry--the mighty railroad man who could blast through rock faster than a steam drill--is a towering figure in our culture. A fascinating take on American popular music, race relations, prisons, and labor history. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. I was looking for a book that would examine the history of "John Henry," the folk song, and its dissemination across America. I also highly recommend the young people's version of this book, "Ain't Nothing But A Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry," for shattering the misconception that history is a dull pursuit. And I’d gotten a very specific impression of what the story meant. SCOTT REYNOLDS NELSON is the author of Steel Drivin' Man, which won the National Award for Arts Writing, the Anisfield-Wolf Literary Prize, the Merle Curti Prize for best book in U.S. history, and the Virginia Literary Award for Nonfiction. 14 day loan required to access EPUB and PDF files. Nelson explored songs, myths and historical documents to locate the actual person behind the legend - more to follow... An inside baseball look into how history is done, with Nelson eventually making the speculative conclusion that the real life John Henry was a short, 19 year old from New Jersey unfairly convicted by Virginia's post-Civil War racist legal system. Nelson tracks down the real person on whom the story is based, a Virginia prisoner working on the Lewis tunnel for the C&O railroad (and the chain gang DID work more efficiently than the steam drill) and then follows the spread of the story and differing lyrics as they adapted to the particulars of the audience. Steve Earle John Henry Was A Steel Drivin' Man (Mountain Stage version) Mountain Stage MS - West Virginia The first half reads like a detective novel as he unravels the mystery. This book could use some editing, but that doesn't mean it's not full of interesting facts and mind bending views of the American Folk legend. Truly impressive work of scholarship bringing to life an old folk / blues/ country song while uncovering unconscionable crimes perpetrated by the commonwealth of Virginia under the guise of law in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Waht ever the reason out of countless other men John Henry became the lasting known figure in song history and then into visual history. They simply arrested and imprisoned newly freed blacks, then rented them out. Not a light read, but rather a history book. Welcome back. I had no idea how much the story/legend of John Henry has been appropriated, convolved, misappropriated, re-appropriated, and given new life throughout the last 200 years of US history. He sets this tale of personal tragedy against the backdrop of the Reconstruction-era South - and then traces the evolution of the song (in its many permutations) through the 20th century as it came to hold different meanings in radically different communities. 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