Bill Egan is an Irish-born citizen of Australia and has pursued a lifelong interest in jazz and African American culture.

The book is methodically researched and carefully documented, using primary source material that has only recently become available; the latter includes numerous interviews with Mills and her husband. A fine addition to the "Studies in Jazz" series, this well-written biography provides rich insights into an important figure in American music. Recommended.

• Chapter 1 DedicationChapter 2 AcknowledgmentsChapter 3 Editor's ForewordChapter 4 PrefaceChapter 5 IntroductionChapter 6 AbbreviationsChapter 7 1. Young FlorenceChapter 8 2. Out in the WorldChapter 9 3. The Rocky Road to FameChapter 10 4. Shufflin' to the TopChapter 11 5. Transatlatic StarChapter 12 6. Dixie DreamsChapter 13 7. The Great White WayChapter 14 8. A Blackbird Takes WingChapter 15 9. Looking for a Bluebird in EuropeChapter 16 10. Black Birds of 1927Chapter 17 11. Swing Low, Sweet ChariotChapter 18 12. Bye Bye BlackbirdChapter 19 13. Florence Mills: A ReappraisalChapter 20 Appendix 1: Black BeautyChapter 21 Appendix 2: Other Commemorative ItemsChapter 22 BibliographyChapter 23 IndexChapter 24 About the Author