Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-04-11
LEES LATEST
BOOK ELECTS
PRESS PRAISE


In one of the longest and most
descriptive book reviews accorded
any of his works, 1t. George w.
Lees third and latest composition,
"Beale St. Shutdown" a collection
CT short stories, was formally pre-
scnted to the Memphis public for
the first time last Saturday after
noon in the Memphis Press-S cim-
itar.
Clark Porteous. one of the city's
best known and most popular news
papermen, popular with both col
ored and white readers CT his pa
per, wrote the review.
1t. Lee, whose previous books
have earned him national recog-
milton, and wide consideration as
one of the best writer's of his
time, was entitled by Mr. Porteous
as 1.-THE Boswell of Beale Street
1t was the Epglishman of the clas-
sic Elizabethan period of English
literature, Boswell, who gained
Immortality for himself with his
biographical writings on the char
acter of the English literary critic
DR.. Samuel johnson.
Mr.. PCrteouS's review stated
"The Boswell of Beale Street has
spunned the blues born on the
street he loves so well into pow
erful prose poetry, in the best book
of his literary career"
ne then gave q brief biegraphi-
cal sketch of the well-known Beale
Street business man and civic fig
ure, mentioning his part in the
first World War, when he was
cited for yalor under fire.
It was pointed out that the book
"Beale Street Shutdown Is a col
lection Of mine crack short stories
First copy off the presses of House
OF Field, Inc, New York publish
ere, has reached Memphis and the
book is scheduled for general re-
lease soon"
Mr.. Porteous recalled MIR. Lees
first two books, "Beaie Street
Where the Blues Began" which
was an alternate Book-Of-T The
Month selection; and his second
book, "River George" which was
also a Book Of The-Month recon-
mendation.
1t was observed by the reviewer
that the stories in "Beaie Street
Shutdown" range from the days
wher w. G, Handy was writing
his tunes on Beale and "a rather
tall. young, red-headed man had
just been elected mayor. to modern
Beale and the Cotton Makers Ju-
bilee, Negro version of the Cotton
Carnival
Among the story titles mention
ed by MI, Porteous, along with
brief synopsis on each story are:
"Beale Street Anyhow" Creating
on the Cotton Makers Jubilee and
the changing of the thorcfare's
name from 'Beale Street to 'Beale
Avenue; 1T Happened At AID
Amateur Show" dealing with the
gyrations of Nat. Williams and the
scores of amateur performers he
deals with at the Palace Theater
weekly: "Beale Street Treasure
Hunt concerns a hunt for buried
treasure, with a humorous side;
"a Beale Streeter Remembers The
War; version of a colored SOL
dier'S reaction to World War No. /;
"The First Blues Singer" traces
the career Of typical blues singer
based On the life of a real person;
"She Made A Preacher Lay His
Bible;;' Is the story of a preacher
who fell in love with a prostitute;
Passing" is the story of light
skinned girl posing as white; and
the last story is 1.-THE Beaie Street
Blues I'm Singing" dealing with
PeeWee's Place on Beale.
The foreWcrd of the lieutenants
latest book was written by Mr..
Harry Martin of the Commercial
Appeal.
MIR. Porteous also mentioned
that cit. Lee recently had Sc
lection from River George en-
titled "Sharecropping," in an an
thology OF Negro Literature, "The
Negro Caravan" The anthology is
one of the finest works of its kind
ever produced, containing the writ
ings of all the best-known Negro
writer's in this country's history
Mr.. Lee is the only Negro living
III this area whose work was in
cluded in the collection of the best
writings of Negro authors.
He was greatly pleased with the
Press -Scirnitar's review of his third
book, and was lavish in his praise
of Mr.. Porteous's treatment of its