Juba!
A Novel

This was interesting to read knowing that it is based on a real person in history. I had never heard about Juba, he seems to be one of those interesting characters who has gotten lost in history. The writing was kind of plain, but it made for an easy read.......more

Sigh......more

3.5 stars, like most books based on real events. I am counting this book for the Read Harder Book about Sports, because dancing definitely counts!......more

This is a wonderfully written and throughly researched hist fic book about William Henry Lane (Master Juba) who was a black dancer (credited to have influenced jazz and tap dance) and entertainer in 1850's NYC and London. And as much as it's about his career and life choices and struggles it's also......more

Writing historical fiction is hard. You read shelves full of books, study documents, interview experts, ponder maps, photographs, and data. You work really hard to insert authentic details (what color dress would she have worn to the dance? What did he eat for lunch? What bus would she have taken to......more