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Author:

Major, Clarence, author.

Title:

Dirty bird blues / Clarence Major ; foreword by Yusef Komunyakaa ; introduction by John Beckman.

Publisher:

Penguin Books,

Copyright Date:

2022

Description:

xxvi, 350 pages ; 20 cm.

Subject:

Blues (Music)--Fiction.
African Americans--Fiction.
African American musicians--Fiction.
Blues musicians--Fiction.
Working class--Fiction.
Race relations--Fiction.
Chicago (Ill.)--Fiction.
Middle West--Fiction.
Historical fiction.
Novels.

Other Authors:

Komunyakaa, Yusef, writer of foreword.
Beckman, John, writer of introduction.

Notes:

"First published in the United States of America by Mercury House 1996." -- Title page verso. Includes bibliographical references.

Summary:

"Set in post-World War II Chicago and Omaha, the novel features Manfred Banks, a young, harmonica-blowing blues singer who is always writing music in his head. Torn between his friendships with fellow musicians and nightclub life and his responsibilities to his wife and child, along with the pressures of dealing with a racist America that assaults him at every turn, Manfred seeks easy answers in 'Dirty Bird' (Old Crow whiskey) and in moving on. He moves to Omaha with hopes of better opportunities as a blue-collar worker, but the blues in his soul and the dreams in his mind keep bringing him back to face himself. After a nightmarish descent into his own depths, Manfred emerges with fresh awareness and possibility. Through Manfred, we witness and experience the process by which modern American English has been vitalized and strengthened by the poetry and the poignancy of the African-American experience. As Manfred struggles with the oppressive constraints of society and his private turmoil, his rich inner voice resonates with the blues." -- Provided by publisher.

ISBN:

0143136593
9780143136590

OCLC:

(OCoLC)1260190547

LCCN:

2021035597

Locations:

BAPH771 -- Des Moines Public Library (Des Moines)

LAPH975 -- Sioux City Public Library (Sioux City)