The Last Ballad

A Novel

De: Wiley Cash

Narrado por: Karen White, Elizabeth Wiley

The Last Ballad has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Left me wanting more!

From the first word, I was drawn in deep. Ms. White & Ms. Wiley’s beautifully performed telling of this heartbreaking tale had me sitting in my car unwilling to turn it off! I believe my instant connection comes from my own desire, and great sadness, to know more about the struggles of my own poor grandparents, who were both mill workers. While not in the textile mill but in the famous furniture mills of North Carolina, they had 8 children (3 of which died in infancy) and worked sun up to sun down to provide better for them. The physical description of Ella could be the twin to my Granny V! My own daddy joined the USAF at age 16 with my Granny’s letter of consent; he served in Vietnam from the first day until the last, for 20+ years. I say this, to say this, my mother was furious with my Granny for sending her son (actually two sons) to war & what she thought was certain death.....until she understood the why of it! My Granny sent them so they would have a “fighting” chance of never stepping foot in The Mill.
Now the more.......the journey of Ella’s children after? That no good lawman (and what I think really happened the day of the raid)? Haywood, his journey after? Kate, Clair, Richard how does the knowing of Ella change the course of their lives? Clair’s upcoming marriage and the real knowledge of her fiancées family? So many questions left unanswered....and like every great mystery, I’m desperate to know if all my hunches are on the right path?

Beautiful heart capturing story

I had to read this novel for my English class and I’m glad I did it’s a beautiful story that’s based on true events. I really loved how Karen & Elizabeth narrated the story with different accents for each character. I enjoyed the story because it gave me more of an insight to how life was back then and how divided we were poor, rich, black, and white. I definitely recommend this novel.

Horrendous part of NC history

This is a haunting tale of the true story of the horrendous labor disputes in the mill towns of North Carolina in 1929 - very well written through the courageous life of Ella May Wiggins.

missing afterstory?

our book club read this and I "read" via audible. The club talked about how useful the after story and authors notes were. These chapters were not included in Audible...I feel I missed out.

poignant,and uplifting in its portrayal

The sacrifices made for the rights of workers is made more profoundly real in this VERY personal saga.