Stadler, Gustavus Woody Guthrie (0807018910)

Woody Guthrie is often mythologized as the quintessential American 'ramblin' man,' a real-life Steinbeckian folk hero who fought for working-class interests and mentored Bob Dylan. Biographers and fans frame him as a foe of fascism and focus on his politically charged folk songs. What's less examined is how Guthrie's work--most of which is unpublished or little known--delves into the importance of intimacy in his personal and political life.

Through his music, writing, and personal relationships, Guthrie sought to dismantle bodily shame and embrace the beauty and power of sexuality. He also believed that intimacy was essential for political struggle; by connecting to others in an emotional and physical way, society can combat the customary emotional states of capitalist cultures: loneliness and isolation. With deep human connection and community, Guthrie believed we could fight fascism's call. However, Guthrie's exploration of sexuality and intimacy chafed against social norms-he faced an obscenity arrest, therapy in a sex deviance clinic, and repeated stays in mental wards. Despite this, Guthrie continued to push the boundaries of society's conventions through his art.

Featuring a photo insert of Guthrie's previously unknown paintings, Woody Guthrie: An Intimate Life is a fresh and contemporary analysis of the overlapping influences of sexuality, politics, and disability upon the art and identity of an American folk legend.