"A stunning achievement: impressively researched, a model of historical recovery, and a book that adds immensely to the understanding of the roots of American theater." — Harvey Young, editor of the Cambridge Companion to African American Theatre "Atkinson's literary biography is ambitious in its scope, demystifying Walker and his mystifying activity and influence, and raises the level of telling a story." — Eric M. Glover, author of AFRICAN-AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES IN MUSICAL THEATRE