Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin

This biography of Aretha Franklin, hailed by Rolling Stone as a “remarkably complex portrait,” chronicles her life and music.

Raised as a gospel prodigy by a progressive Baptist preacher, Franklin gave birth to two sons in her teens and left Detroit for New York, struggling to find her voice. In 1967, a white Jewish producer urged her to return to her roots, leading to fame and fortune with “Respect” and subsequent hits. Despite personal tragedies, surprise Grammy performances, and career reinventions, Franklin remained a formidable figure. Author David Ritz offers an account of the life of one of America’s greatest talents.

(This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)