WILLIAM C. HANDY

1587 BROADWAY
NEW YORK
CIRCLE 6-8843

July 28th, 1941.

Mr. Ben Abramson,
The Argus Book Shop,
16 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, Ill.

Dear Mr. Abramson:

Just a line to acknowledge receipt of your letter
of July 25, and to assure you that I will be there
on time.

I am leaving here early Wednesday morning, motoring
and I am looking forward to the pleasure of meeting
you.

The fact that Macmillan has notified me that the
second edition is being printed makes me all the
more anxious to carry out your program in Chicago.

With all good wishes, I am

WCH:LMH

William C. Handy, the Composer of the—

MEMPHIS BLUES-ST. LOUIS BLUES etc.

has published his autobiography under the title of—

FATHER OF THE BLUES

From every part of the country comes enthusiastic acclaim for this book which is edited by Arna Bon-
temps, and has an Introduction by Abbe Niles.

"Told with his race's appreciation of laughter and its acceptance of sadness, packed with facts on the development of American native music, W. C. Handy's autobiography is a warming, delightful story which should appeal to anyone who has ever danced, whistled, sung, or just listened to any of his immortal haunting songs ... It is at the same time the story of the birth of the blues as they became known in every corner of America and in the far reaches of the world, the biography of the musical medium that, born in lament and in sadness, echoes both the exuberance and the melancholy of modern life."

—H. AUSTIN STEVENS in the *New York Times Book Review*.

"He brings back without special effort the whole atmosphere of those days when the meaning of freedom was realized because men also knew what bondage meant ... There are pages of spontaneously vivid writing and something more—the revelation of a magnanimous spirit, a natural dignity and integrity."

—ISABEL PATERSON in the *New York Herald Tribune*.

"An admirable autobiography ... It is a rich, direct, engaging set of personal stories, extremely well told ... Handy's book like his music, is most significant as the life story of a talented Negro in the U. S."

—Time.

"W. C. Handy is the dean of Negro composers, almost, indeed, the dean of Negro celebrities ... He is perhaps the first important Negro musician to tell his story. It happens to be an important story ... Here we have the history of the Blues ... the story of how these songs were composed ... an immensely valuable account of early Negro minstrel troupes ... bits of folklore which are interesting and instructive ... more serious matters ... many anecdotes ... His autobiography is both welcome and valuable."

—CARL VAN VECHTEN in *New York Herald Tribune Books*.

"A mine of information for musicians, sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists and students of folklore. It is part of national history; it is an important volume of Americana. Don't overlook this book—it has permanent value."

—Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"A success story of uncommon interest. A story of obstacles overcome by fine persistence and a faith in the ultimate triumph of his own gifts."

—Hartford Times.

"It tells the story of a musical career that has affected as many lives as that of Bach, Brahms or Wagner ... His story is musical history and American history through and through.

—RALPH THOMPSON in the *New York Times*.

"All the pathos and humor of his race is in this story, all the bitterness and bigness, all the meanness and glamor, all the hectic work. It is a story to dig into and cull out the gems, a source book of American folk ways.

—Boston Globe.

"W. C. Handy will leave two kinds of legacies, his immortal works and a book about them ... In telling his story he gives the world a volume of the long history of music; the end of an age, the beginning of an epoch. He put Man over tribe; Genius over blood, reaching Beale Street; thence Broadway; finally every distant place. Now see him, still living, full of honors, his name a household word."

—ROSCOE CONKLING SIMMONS in the *Chicago Defender*.

"Inspired writing that cannot miss its lick in creating a better understanding of Negro folk music and its heritage, the blues ... As Mr. Handy and the kind of Southland that he knew fade into twilight, we, too, hate to see the evenin' sun go down. We deem it fortunate that the father of the blues has not denied us his story."

—GARLAND COLLUM in the *Dallas Morning News*.

"Excellent ... It is an impressive contender for the literary Pulitzer Prize."

—GERALD COSGROVE in the *South Bend Tribune*.

"One of the best autobiographies of the year."

—Denver Rocky Mountain News.

W. C. Handy's "Father of the Blues" is a further step toward the understanding of our American Negro's contribution to American arts.

—MARY MAC FRANKLIN in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

FATHER OF THE BLUES, by W. C. Handy, is published by The Macmillan Company, 60 Fifth Avenue, New York. Price $3.00. Illustrated with pictures of the author and "blues." 368 pages

W. C. Handy will autograph your book ordered through
HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO., INC.

Order from your bookstore or from the nearest HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO., INC. office or through
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1587 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, N.Y.

New York—Atlanta—Boston—Chicago—Dallas—San Francisco

WILLIAM C. HANDY

September
Eleven
1941

The Argus Book Shop, Inc.
16 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Ill.

Dear Sirs:

I am in receipt of your letter of the 8th, and
am pleased to advise that I have autographed
the book to Dr. Edward W. Wilson as per your
request and that same goes forward in today's
mail.

With best wishes, I am

WCH:KL

P. S. I am leaving tomorrow for Schenectady for an interview over WGY and all about the book.