Sherry Jones ÄR Josephine Baker!

Josephine Baker was during some ten years before her premature death in 1975, a very dear friend of mine - and also of our family. The loss of Josephine at the treshold of new adventures, after some years when she was more or less forgotten and "out", when - as an extra burden - her money problem caused her great distress, was deeply felt. At that time she received this fantastic opportunity to perform in full gala at Bobino in Paris. Bobino was of course not Le Lido or the Folies Bergere, but still a great place to make a come-back on. I had also managed to negotiate two weeks performances at a new show-scene in the center of Stockholm after the Bobino-sejour. She was definitely coming back! She still had her strong and very personal voice, her moves, her "one-second-dress-changes" and her ability to mesmerize the audience. She would have made a great impact on a new generation and remained the queen of the show-scene!

 But fate wanted something else and she suffered a major stroke that took her life just after the successful opening at Bobino. A lot has been written about Josephine. But now Sherry Jones, author of - among others - the success-novel "The Jewel of Medina", has taken on Josephines history in the form of a "biographic novel" and done so with the honours. It is not a chronological biography, but focuses on some important parts of Josephines life. Her youth, that - the hard way - taught her both the joyfulness and the sorrows of life in the black community of USA in the beginning of the last century. Her lifelong fight against racism and segregation. Her venture as a spy for the French resistance during the war. Her aim to form a rainbow-family (she defined the word long before the HBTQ-people kidnapped it) of adopted children of all races, religions and ethnical backgrounds. But mainly of course, her life on stage where she became the undisputed star of her time. As the strong and determined girl she was, she never let hardship hold her back. France opened its' arms to her and let her flourish. But also in her new and beloved country she could now and then experience bigotry, pettiness and racism. Especially during the 30-ies and 40ies when France was under influences of the WWII and the Nazis. Sherry empathetically captures the girl and the woman, Josephine, with great compassion and sympathy. It is rather unbelievable that in fact Sherry has never even met Josephine Baker, because she can picture her personality extremely accurate. And the language is so vivid and capturing - almost a ready-made movie manuscript. I would look forward to seeing this on a screen! Let Sherry Jones book be the continuation of Josephine Bakers fight for humanity, equal rights and love! Just read it! MATS WERNER

Mats W