America Over the Water

by Shirley Collins

ISBN: 0 946719 66 7 

192 pages (illustrated with 100 B&W photos). Hardback

Price RRP UK £20    US $30

RARE LIMITED 1st EDITION HARDBACKS SIGNED ON TITLE PAGE BY SHIRLEY COLLINS IN LONDON

A fascinating journey into the cultural roots of traditional American Music accompanying legendary music archivist Alan Lomax

Scroll down for a selection of photos from the book.

In 1959 Shirley Collins a nineteen-year-old folk singer from Hastings set out on an extraordinary journey across the deep American South with Alan Lomax, the great American folklorist.

America Over the Water blends the personal story of Shirley’s relationship with Lomax, with a unique first hand account of America on the brink of the civil rights era. Going to the heart of the blues, spending time with the men on road gangs, in State Penitentiaries and homes and music venues America Over the Water is a major account of a remarkable place at a remarkable time.

"She is a wonderfully laconic and informative raconteur. Masterpieces are seldom so readable. Contender for book of the year. * * * * Record Collector

"Collins is one of English traditional music’s most celebrated voices and a fine writer too. In this frank, lively account she comes across as single-minded and tough, but also naive and unworldly. This only adds to the narrative’s charm. A fascinating musicological documentary and a love story too. Best of all, a spine-tingling account of the first-ever recordings of Mississippi Fred McDowell." * * * * Mojo

“I found it very touching indeed. You know from the writing that this is a woman of knowledge and sophistication… and you’re suddenly aware that this person who you have been reading these very touching letters of, knows in her maturity all sorts of things about music and people and moralities. And that’s very moving.” David Attenborough

"Reading her book, I start to understand her better, and while she is typically self-effacing, she has been prompted to give away more of herself than she might have chosen. Which of course makes it so much more interesting." Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span) (The Times)

"Shirley Collins’ book America Over the Water about Alan Lomax is an instant history project." The Guardian books of the year (guide for ubercool teens)

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