“The James Brown we saw tended to be the James Brown we chose to see: as the caped crusader of funk and soul, adored by millions, or as the face in a seemingly endless series of mug shots. The ways in which he appealed to and appalled different audiences made Brown a kind of national Rorschach test.”

American novelist, journalist, and musician

Jonathan Miles is an American novelist, journalist, and musician. He is known for his novels and for his writing in magazines and newspapers, including a column for the New York Times Styles section. His books include Dear American Airlines, Want Not, Anatomy of a Miracle: The True* Story of a Paralyzed Veteran, a Mississippi Convenience Store, a Vatican Investigation, and the Spectacular Perils of Grace, and Eradication: A Fable. He has also contributed to GQ, Details, Field & Stream, and Garden & Gun.