At last!  Here it is, the definitive biography of Alan Lomax, America's foremost renegade anthropologist and musicologist.  Through his field recordings, archiving work, lectures, and writing, Lomax did more than anyone in history to bring folk music from around the world to the general public.  Drawing upon a wealth of Lomax's diaries and personal correspondences, John Szwed provides an extensive account of the man's work, struggles, political views, and personal relationships.  The breadth of Lomax's accomplishments and scope of his vision are truly inspiring.  Spanning most of the 20th century, the book reads as a sociopolitical history of the Unites States during this period as much as a biography, featuring prominent historical figures such as Leadbelly, Zora Neale Hurston, Woody Guthrie, Eleanor Roosevelt, and many more.  Essential for folk music enthusiasts and anyone interested in traditional culture from around the world.  For the uninitiated, get acquainted with a true visionary! Tune in to www.culturalequity.org to get hep.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

ONE BRAND NEW* COPY of the original hardcover edition; first print

*(While this book is indeed new and unread, there is a 2-3" diagonal crease through the top corner of two pages.)

Originally published in 2014, Last Stories was proclaimed by Vollmann at the time as actually being his "last work."  Although there was indeed a five year haitus, he has since 2020 resumed publishing.

To learn more here's a brief review of this work in the Harvard Review.