The Last Ballad (2017) Signed First Edition Reference

The Last Ballad is Wiley Cash’s most ambitious novel, a work of historical fiction centered on the 1929 Loray Mill Strike in Gastonia, North Carolina. The novel tells the story of Ella May Wiggins, a real-life textile worker and union organizer who was murdered during the strike, becoming a martyr of the American labor movement.

The Book

Cash’s novelistic treatment gives flesh and blood to a historical figure who has largely been reduced to a footnote. Ella May’s voice — her poverty, her determination, her courage — drives a narrative that illuminates a pivotal moment in American labor history. Cash draws on extensive research while maintaining the momentum and emotional power of a novel.

First Edition Identification

Publisher: William Morrow, New York Publication date: 2017 Format: Hardcover in dust jacket

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed first edition, fine/fine: $25–$60
• Unsigned first edition: $8–$15

The Last Ballad represents Cash’s bid for literary recognition beyond the crime fiction audience. The labor history subject matter appeals to readers of historical fiction and social history, broadening its potential collector base.