Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul
Kill 'Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul
Overview
National Book Award winner James McBride goes in search of the real James Brown after receiving a tip that promises to uncover the man behind the myth. His surprising journey illuminates not only our understanding of this immensely troubled, misunderstood, and complicated soul genius but the ways in which our cultural heritage has been shaped by Brown s legacy."Kill Em and Leave "is more than a book about James Brown. Brown s rough-and-tumble life, through McBride s lens, is an unsettling metaphor for American life: the tension between North and South, black and white, rich and poor. McBride s travels take him to forgotten corners of Brown s never-before-revealed history: the country town where Brown s family and thousands of others were displaced by America s largest nuclear power bomb-making facility; a South Carolina field where a long-forgotten cousin recounts, in the dead of night, a fuller history of Brown s sharecropping childhood, which until now has been a mystery. McBride seeks out the American expatriate in England who co-created the James Brown sound, visits the trusted right-hand manager who worked with Brown for forty-one years, and interviews Brown s most influential nonmusical creation, his adopted son, the Reverend Al Sharpton. He describes the stirring visit of Michael Jackson to the Augusta, Georgia, funeral home where the King of Pop sat up all night with the body of his musical godfather, spends hours talking with Brown s first wife, and lays bare the Dickensian legal contest over James Brown s estate, a fight that has consumed careers; prevented any money from reaching the poor schoolchildren in Georgia and South Carolina, as instructed in his will; cost Brown s estate millions in legal fees; and left James Brown s body to lie for more than eight years in a gilded coffin in his daughter s yard in South Carolina.
James McBride is one of the most distinctive and electric literary voices in America today, andpart of the pleasure of his narrative is being in his presence, coming to understand Brown through McBride s own insights as a black musician with Southern roots."Kill Em and Leave "is a song unearthing and celebrating James Brown s great legacy: the cultural landscape of America today.
Praise for "Kill Em and Leave"
Thoughtful and probing . . . with great warmth, insight and frequent wit. The results are partisan and enthusiastic, and they helped this listener think about the work in a new way. . . . James McBride s welcome elucidation . . . is clear, deeply felt and unmistakable. Rick Moody, "The New York Times Book Review"
[McBride] turnsout to also be the biographer of James Brown we ve all been waiting for. . . . McBride s true subject is race and poverty in a country that doesn t want to hear about it, unless compelled by a voice that demands to be heard. Boris Kachka, "New York"
The definitive look at one of the greatest, most important entertainers, The Godfather, Da Number One Soul Brother, Mr. Please, Please Himself JAMES BROWN. Spike Lee
James McBride on James Brown is the matchup we ve been waiting for, a musician who came up hard in Brooklyn with JB hooks lodged in his brain, a monster ear for the truth, and the chops to write it. Gerri Hirshey, author of "Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music"
An unconventional and fascinating portrait of Soul Brother No. 1 and the significance of his rise and fall in American culture. " Kirkus Reviews" "From the Hardcover edition.""
Description
"Kill Em and Leave "is more than a book about James Brown. Brown s rough-and-tumble life, through McBride s lens, is an unsettling metaphor for American life: the tension between North and South, black and white, rich and poor. McBride s travels take him to forgotten corners of Brown s never-before-revealed history: the country town where Brown s family and thousands of others were displaced by America s largest nuclear power bomb-making facility; a South Carolina field where a long-forgotten cousin recounts, in the dead of night, a fuller history of Brown s sharecropping childhood, which until now has been a mystery. McBride seeks out the American expatriate in England who co-created the James Brown sound, visits the trusted right-hand manager who worked with Brown for forty-one years, and interviews Brown s most influential nonmusical creation, his adopted son, the Reverend Al Sharpton. He describes the stirring visit of Michael Jackson to the Augusta, Georgia, funeral home where the King of Pop sat up all night with the body of his musical godfather, spends hours talking with Brown s first wife, and lays bare the Dickensian legal contest over James Brown s estate, a fight that has consumed careers; prevented any money from reaching the poor schoolchildren in Georgia and South Carolina, as instructed in his will; cost Brown s estate millions in legal fees; and left James Brown s body to lie for more than eight years in a gilded coffin in his daughter s yard in South Carolina.
James McBride is one of the most distinctive and electric literary voices in America today, andpart of the pleasure of his narrative is being in his presence, coming to understand Brown through McBride s own insights as a black musician with Southern roots."Kill Em and Leave "is a song unearthing and celebrating James Brown s great legacy: the cultural landscape of America today.
Praise for "Kill Em and Leave"
Thoughtful and probing . . . with great warmth, insight and frequent wit. The results are partisan and enthusiastic, and they helped this listener think about the work in a new way. . . . James McBride s welcome elucidation . . . is clear, deeply felt and unmistakable. Rick Moody, "The New York Times Book Review"
[McBride] turnsout to also be the biographer of James Brown we ve all been waiting for. . . . McBride s true subject is race and poverty in a country that doesn t want to hear about it, unless compelled by a voice that demands to be heard. Boris Kachka, "New York"
The definitive look at one of the greatest, most important entertainers, The Godfather, Da Number One Soul Brother, Mr. Please, Please Himself JAMES BROWN. Spike Lee
James McBride on James Brown is the matchup we ve been waiting for, a musician who came up hard in Brooklyn with JB hooks lodged in his brain, a monster ear for the truth, and the chops to write it. Gerri Hirshey, author of "Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music"
An unconventional and fascinating portrait of Soul Brother No. 1 and the significance of his rise and fall in American culture. " Kirkus Reviews" "From the Hardcover edition.""
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Categories
Overview
National Book Award winner James McBride goes in search of the real James Brown after receiving a tip that promises to uncover the man behind the myth. His surprising journey illuminates not only our understanding of this immensely troubled, misunderstood, and complicated soul genius but the ways in which our cultural heritage has been shaped by Brown s legacy."Kill Em and Leave "is more than a book about James Brown. Brown s rough-and-tumble life, through McBride s lens, is an unsettling metaphor for American life: the tension between North and South, black and white, rich and poor. McBride s travels take him to forgotten corners of Brown s never-before-revealed history: the country town where Brown s family and thousands of others were displaced by America s largest nuclear power bomb-making facility; a South Carolina field where a long-forgotten cousin recounts, in the dead of night, a fuller history of Brown s sharecropping childhood, which until now has been a mystery. McBride seeks out the American expatriate in England who co-created the James Brown sound, visits the trusted right-hand manager who worked with Brown for forty-one years, and interviews Brown s most influential nonmusical creation, his adopted son, the Reverend Al Sharpton. He describes the stirring visit of Michael Jackson to the Augusta, Georgia, funeral home where the King of Pop sat up all night with the body of his musical godfather, spends hours talking with Brown s first wife, and lays bare the Dickensian legal contest over James Brown s estate, a fight that has consumed careers; prevented any money from reaching the poor schoolchildren in Georgia and South Carolina, as instructed in his will; cost Brown s estate millions in legal fees; and left James Brown s body to lie for more than eight years in a gilded coffin in his daughter s yard in South Carolina.
James McBride is one of the most distinctive and electric literary voices in America today, andpart of the pleasure of his narrative is being in his presence, coming to understand Brown through McBride s own insights as a black musician with Southern roots."Kill Em and Leave "is a song unearthing and celebrating James Brown s great legacy: the cultural landscape of America today.
Praise for "Kill Em and Leave"
Thoughtful and probing . . . with great warmth, insight and frequent wit. The results are partisan and enthusiastic, and they helped this listener think about the work in a new way. . . . James McBride s welcome elucidation . . . is clear, deeply felt and unmistakable. Rick Moody, "The New York Times Book Review"
[McBride] turnsout to also be the biographer of James Brown we ve all been waiting for. . . . McBride s true subject is race and poverty in a country that doesn t want to hear about it, unless compelled by a voice that demands to be heard. Boris Kachka, "New York"
The definitive look at one of the greatest, most important entertainers, The Godfather, Da Number One Soul Brother, Mr. Please, Please Himself JAMES BROWN. Spike Lee
James McBride on James Brown is the matchup we ve been waiting for, a musician who came up hard in Brooklyn with JB hooks lodged in his brain, a monster ear for the truth, and the chops to write it. Gerri Hirshey, author of "Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music"
An unconventional and fascinating portrait of Soul Brother No. 1 and the significance of his rise and fall in American culture. " Kirkus Reviews" "From the Hardcover edition.""
Description
"Kill Em and Leave "is more than a book about James Brown. Brown s rough-and-tumble life, through McBride s lens, is an unsettling metaphor for American life: the tension between North and South, black and white, rich and poor. McBride s travels take him to forgotten corners of Brown s never-before-revealed history: the country town where Brown s family and thousands of others were displaced by America s largest nuclear power bomb-making facility; a South Carolina field where a long-forgotten cousin recounts, in the dead of night, a fuller history of Brown s sharecropping childhood, which until now has been a mystery. McBride seeks out the American expatriate in England who co-created the James Brown sound, visits the trusted right-hand manager who worked with Brown for forty-one years, and interviews Brown s most influential nonmusical creation, his adopted son, the Reverend Al Sharpton. He describes the stirring visit of Michael Jackson to the Augusta, Georgia, funeral home where the King of Pop sat up all night with the body of his musical godfather, spends hours talking with Brown s first wife, and lays bare the Dickensian legal contest over James Brown s estate, a fight that has consumed careers; prevented any money from reaching the poor schoolchildren in Georgia and South Carolina, as instructed in his will; cost Brown s estate millions in legal fees; and left James Brown s body to lie for more than eight years in a gilded coffin in his daughter s yard in South Carolina.
James McBride is one of the most distinctive and electric literary voices in America today, andpart of the pleasure of his narrative is being in his presence, coming to understand Brown through McBride s own insights as a black musician with Southern roots."Kill Em and Leave "is a song unearthing and celebrating James Brown s great legacy: the cultural landscape of America today.
Praise for "Kill Em and Leave"
Thoughtful and probing . . . with great warmth, insight and frequent wit. The results are partisan and enthusiastic, and they helped this listener think about the work in a new way. . . . James McBride s welcome elucidation . . . is clear, deeply felt and unmistakable. Rick Moody, "The New York Times Book Review"
[McBride] turnsout to also be the biographer of James Brown we ve all been waiting for. . . . McBride s true subject is race and poverty in a country that doesn t want to hear about it, unless compelled by a voice that demands to be heard. Boris Kachka, "New York"
The definitive look at one of the greatest, most important entertainers, The Godfather, Da Number One Soul Brother, Mr. Please, Please Himself JAMES BROWN. Spike Lee
James McBride on James Brown is the matchup we ve been waiting for, a musician who came up hard in Brooklyn with JB hooks lodged in his brain, a monster ear for the truth, and the chops to write it. Gerri Hirshey, author of "Nowhere to Run: The Story of Soul Music"
An unconventional and fascinating portrait of Soul Brother No. 1 and the significance of his rise and fall in American culture. " Kirkus Reviews" "From the Hardcover edition.""
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Categories
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