A short life of the author
Mark Zwonitzer is an American biographer, historian, and writer for documentary film. He has worked with Ken Burns and other PBS filmmakers on historical documentaries, and has published narrative nonfiction that combines meticulous research with vivid storytelling.
Major Works
Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone?: The Carter Family and Their Legacy in American Music (2002, Simon & Schuster, with Charles Hirshberg) — the definitive biography of the Carter Family, tracing how A.P., Sara, and Maybelle Carter recorded and preserved the folk music of the Appalachian mountains and helped create the country music industry.
The Statesman and the Storyteller: John Hay, Mark Twain, and the Rise of American Imperialism (2016, Algonquin Books) — a dual biography exploring the friendship and diverging worldviews of Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary (and later Secretary of State) and America’s greatest humorist, set against the backdrop of American expansion at the turn of the twentieth century.
Collecting Zwonitzer
Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? (2002, Simon & Schuster) first editions bring $20–$50 and are collected by enthusiasts of country music history. The Statesman and the Storyteller (2016, Algonquin) is also modestly priced.