Five new books to check out in June
The Wild West, Jazz Age Harlem, and a shocking spinach scandal
How lucky are we to kick off the summer reading season with new bangers from Bryan Burrough and John Seabrook? Plus: two larger-than-life ladies from Harlem’s glory days and one infamous 19th Century frontier woman.
From the publisher: “An epic reconsideration of the time and place that spawned America’s most legendary gunfighters, from Jesse James and Billy the Kid to Butch and Sundance.” Library Journal (starred): “A captivating exploration of the Wild West, delving into the era of gunfighters with literary flair and historical depth. … A must-read for anyone interested in understanding the enduring legacy of the Wild West, in which Burrough expertly separates fact from folklore.” (Penguin Press, June 3)
From the publisher: “It’s a tale of family secrets and Swiss bank accounts, of half-truths, of hatred and passion―and lots and lots of liquor.” The New York Times: “Seabrook recounts how his grandfather turned a family farm into an industrial behemoth, and exposes the greed and malfeasance behind the prosperous facade. … [B]rings the ease and command of New Yorker-style reportage to bear on his own family. It’s a shocking but juicy story” (Norton, June 3)
From the publisher: “The astonishing little-known history of Harlem racketeer Madame Stephanie St. Clair, one of the only female crime bosses and a Black, self-made businesswoman in early twentieth-century New York.” Kate Winkler Dawson: “A historic true crime tale with a twist.” (Park Row, June 3)
From the publisher: “A vibrant, deeply researched biography of A’Lelia Walker—daughter of Madam C.J. Walker and herself a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance—written by her great-granddaughter. Town & Country: “Explores the life and legacy of a larger-than-life character who was born into prominence but found her own path to greatness.” (Scribner, June 10)
From the publisher: “In this definitive biography of the most infamous female outlaw of the nineteenth century, best-selling historian Michael Wallis challenges a notorious legacy.” Kirkus: “The trials of a frontier woman. … A brisk, spirited biography.” (Liveright, June 24)