Roark Bradford's 1931 novel and 1939 play dealing with the legendary folk-hero John Henry (both titled John Henry) were extremely influential in their own time, but have since then been nearly forgotten. Steven C. Tracy has united these hard-to-find works in a single critical edition that helps contextualize-and revive-both texts. An expansive introduction explores Bradford's life; recounts critical responses to his works; and surveys John Henry's pervasive influence in folk, literary, and popular culture. The volume also features a wide array of supplementary materials including a selected bibliography and discography, transcriptions of folksong texts and recordings available during the 1930s, and a chronology of the lives of both Bradford and Henry. As Tracy's introduction makes clear, such a consideration of Bradford--set in the context of writers, both black and white, drawing upon African American folklore and using dialects along with stereotypical and non-stereotypical portrayals--is long overdue. This new edition is a windfall for scholars and students of folklore and African American literature.

Steven C. Tracy is Professor of Afro-American Studies at University of Massachusetts at Amherst and editor of A Historical Guide to Ralph Ellison and A Historical Guide to Langston Hughes (OUP 2003 and 2004).

Introduction
Bibliography for introduction
Discography of recordings echoing the folk tradition in the novel
Transcriptions of versions of the folk songs
John Henry folk song bibliography
John Henry bibliography, 1932-Present
John Henry folk song discography, 1921-1931
Roark Bradford Bibliography
Reviews of the novel
Reviews of the play
Roark Bradford Chronology
John Henry: the novel _
I. The Birth of John Henry
II. Coonjine
III. The Black River Country
Bend Your Back and Sing
Roll, You Wheelers
VI. Back of Town
VII. Julie Anne
VIII. Fourteen-Thirty-Six
IX. Woman on My Weary Mind
X. Poor Selma
XI. Stacker Lee
XII. The Poor Selma "Gris Gris"
XIII. Man's Ever Burden
XIV. Hand in Hand
XV. Shoulder Your Load and Walk John Henry's Pathway
XVI. John Henry's Pathway
XVII. Ring, Steel, Ring
XVIII. Down the Road
XIX. The Way with Women
XX. Doing for His Woman
XXI. The How Long Song
XXII. No Rest for the Weary Burden
XXIII. Lord, My Burden
XXIV. John Henry Lays His Burden Down
XXV. John Henry's Last Go Round
John Henry: A Play
Act One, Scene One
Act One, Scene Two
Act One, Scene Three
Act Two, Scene One
Act Two, Scene Two
Act Three, Scene One
Act Three, Scene Two