The Last Ballad: A Novel

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wiley Cash reveals the dignity and humanity of people asking for a fair shot in an unfair world. Fraught with the turmoil of social change, The Last Ballad moves inexorably toward a devastating moment of reckoning. A timely and topical portrait of a community in crisis." (Christina Baker Kline, author of A Piece of the World and Orphan Train)

"Cash pulls no punches in this gorgeous, gut-wrenching novel, and that's entirely as it should be for a story of desperate people. In an era when American workers are besieged as they haven't been since the Great Depression, I can think of no more relevant novel for our times." (Ben Fountain, Author of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk on The Last Ballad)

"Inspired by the events of an actual textile-mill strike in 1929, Cash creates a vivid picture of one woman's desperation.... A heartbreaking and beautifully written look at the real people involved in the labor movement." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Beautifully and courageously told. Wiley Cash dares give voice to people lost in the margins of history, and he brings to life their inspiring fight for justice with graceful prose, honesty and intensity, and best of all, a wonderful bigness of heart." (Lydia Peelle, author of The Midnight Cool on The Last Ballad)

"This suspenseful, moving novel is a story of struggle and personal sacrifice for the greater good that will resonate with readers of John Steinbeck or Ron Rash." (Publishers Weekly)

"Resonates with pain, love, the struggle of life and the gross injustices of the world. I hated leaving Ella May's world, reveled in watching her bravery against unspeakable odds and her unending support of racial equality... A riveting story." (Louisiana Book News)

"With his vibrant imagination, vigorous research, and his architectural skill in structuring this novel, Wiley Cash has lifted the events of the past into the present and immortalized a time that holds valuable lessons for our country today." (Charlotte Observer)

"Wiley Cash's third novel is a sweeping, old-fashioned saga with an inspirational but ill-fated heroine at its center... Ella May is such a rich, sympathetic character... Powerful and moving, exploring complex historical issues that are still with us today." (BookPage.com)