Bessie Smith: A Poet's Biography of a Blues Legend

There is no one like Bessie Smith. Known for her prodigous musical talent, her timeless blues narratives about personal and socioeconomic problems, her tough persona, and her innate ability to enrapture audiences with her raw voice, Bessie Smith--the Empress of the Blues--receives a unique biographical treatment in this special life narrative captured by one of Scotland's finest poets. By masterfully incorporating multiple genres as well as her own experiences in listening to Bessie Smith, Jackie Kay brings Smith to life, chronicling her humble beginnings in Tennessee, her national touring and recording success, her troubled relationships, and her tragic end. The result is a lyrical tribute that not only captures Smith's personality; it also manages to reproduce her voice as her lyrics echo throughout the text. Bessie Smith lives on, and as Kay argues, she is revelant now more than ever.