Robeson: An American Ballad

Paul Robeson was a towering figure in American culture, conquering many disparate venues—from football to film and law to Shakespeare. An extraordinary athlete-scholar-actor-singer, Robeson also became a crusader for human rights. And though he was admired by many, his controversial support of the Soviet Union during the Cold War and the era of McCarthyism led to ostracism and his declining health.

In Robeson: An American Ballad, Arnold H. Lubasch chronicles the remarkable life of this 20th century original. In this concise and readable account, Lubasch—a New York Times veteran for almost 40 years—reports on Robeson’s life story more accurately and clearly than any previous books about him. In addition to detailing the highs and lows of Robeson’s life and career, Lubasch offers several personal anecdotes about this American icon, and includes commentary on the 100th-anniversary celebration of Robeson’s birth.

This engaging work will be of interest to virtually everyone—but especially to scholars and students of U.S. and African-American history and culture.