Calypso: Transcontinental Topicality and Tradition, 1898–1946 is a masterful account of calypso as a cultural and musical form shaped by migration, colonial histories, and diasporic exchange. John Cowley provides the most complete account to date of calypso in the Caribbean diaspora, including performer biographies, detailed descriptions of repertoire themes, and the unique relationship between calypso and Carnival. He traces how expatriate performers retained memories of their islands of origin and adapted them to circumstances of migration, the making of recordings, and touring throughout the region, exploring the relationship between the record business and calypso recordings. Calypso focuses on the complex regional and transcontinental history of Caribbean musics in the Caribbean and circum Caribbean, North America (predominantly the USA), and Europe (primarily the UK). While the Caribbean focus is Trinidadian, Cowley makes careful comparisons among similar styles in other English-speaking islands, particularly Jamaica. Cowley surveys the relation of Trinidad calypso themes to local and world events, with the dramatic impact of World War II receiving special attention. He integrates archival research, rare recordings, period journalism, and other primary sources, as well as commercial idiomatic recordings into a single historical narrative. Altogether, Cowley presents the most complete reference work available on calypso and a compelling narrative for anyone who loves the music.
