Shelly Romalis

This book is a study by an anthroplogist of Molly Jackson, a coal miner's wife from Kentucky who got taken up by the radical/CP left in the 30's and brought to NYC. She wrote songs about the life of the miners & their families. The book also discusses her half-sister Sarah Gunning, who also moved to NYC in the 30's and ended up performing in folk music revival venues in the 60's & 70's. This is not a history book but more of a study about historical events and some people involved in them. The author does not attempt to find a "true story", but shows some different points of view. The book is a bit academic. Molly Jackson seems to be a person who puts herself at the center of every story, and pushes other people out of the story altogether. At one point she is quoted talking about how something she did was all over the Florida newspapers & at that point I wished for a book which would include information about whether in fact that claim was true, since it seems like it might be a checkable claim. But this isn't that book. This book has lots of points of view, and all are influenced by the person's wishes & political perspective.… (mere)