Books Tell You Why, Inc.

First US edition/first printing in Near Fine condition with lightly bumped corners and ding to lower part of front board in Fine dust-jacket.

In this brilliantly written and sensitive novel, Caryl Phillips tells the story of a family of African Americans—the Johnsons—whose lives are transformed by the music of Atlantic Records in the early 1960s. Phillips brilliantly captures the spirit of a time and place—the tension between the idealism of the Civil Rights movement and the harsh realities of segregation—and the power of music to connect people from different parts of the world.

The Johnsons are a tightly knit family living in the small town of Dillon, North Carolina. The father, Luther, is a hardworking truck driver; the mother, Lillie, is a stay-at-home mom; and the four children—Darnell, Gail, Luther Jr., and Sharon—are all talented musicians. When Luther starts working at Atlantic Records, the family's life changes dramatically. The Johnsons are now part of a community of African American musicians and artists, and they are inspired by the music they are hearing; 8vo; FSA.

Price: $40.00