In this biography, Jazz historian John Chilton provides the short, tragic story of Billie Holiday. He has purposely excluded information about Holiday`s mysterious childhood stating that, due to its traumatic nature, Holiday was unable to recollect it. Thus, Chilton focuses on Holiday`s personal life and career from the time she began recording in 1933 until her untimely death in 1959. In doing so, he provides a diplomatic portrait of Holiday, highlighting her admirable qualities, her weaknesses, and the ways in which racism and drug addition plagued her life. A foreword by Buck Clayton, a trumpeter who recalls performing with Billie in the Basie band, has been included.