Play Pretty Blues
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Play Pretty Blues: A Novel of Robert Johnson
This lyrical historical novel reimagines the life of blues legend Robert Johnson, one of Mississippi Delta's most enigmatic musicians. Part researched reconstruction, part vivid imagination, the narrative brings Johnson alive through an innovative storytelling approach that reveals the man behind the myth.
Unique Narrative Structure
The novel employs six distinct voices—those of Robert Johnson's six wives—to piece together the bluesman's complex life. This multiple perspective approach illuminates the husband, son, and human being inside the legend, offering intimate glimpses into Johnson's personal relationships and the profound impact he had on those closest to him.
Blues History Meets Literary Fiction
Snowden Wright crafts a character-driven exploration of one of American music's most influential figures. The story navigates the mysteries surrounding Johnson's life and death, which have long transcended historical fact to become cultural mythology. Set against the backdrop of the Mississippi Delta and American South, the novel captures the cultural and musical landscape that shaped Johnson's groundbreaking blues sound.
About Author Snowden Wright
Snowden Wright holds a BA in Creative Writing from Dartmouth College and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Columbia University. His nonfiction work has been published at Salon, TheAtlantic.com, Nerve, The Morning News, Freerange Nonfiction, Thought Catalog, The Good Men Project, Esquire.com, Bookslut, The Millions, and the New York Daily News. His fiction has been published at Dark Sky, The Rumpus, TheLMagazine.com, Emprise Review, elimae, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn. Wright was the 2012 recipient of the Summer Literary Seminar's Graywolf Prize for best novel excerpt. He lives in New York City.
What Readers Will Discover
This novel examines the vacuum Johnson left in the worlds of those who loved him and those he would never meet. Through the intimate perspectives of his six wives, readers gain access to untold stories and emotional truths about a musician whose influence continues to resonate through generations of blues and rock musicians.
Published by Engine Books, this paperback edition offers music lovers and literary fiction enthusiasts an immersive journey into blues history, cultural heritage, and the personal cost of artistic genius.
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