This definitive biography of Henry (Hank) Aaron--one of baseball's immortal figures--is a revelatory portrait of a complicated, private man who through sports became an enduring American icon.

"Beautifully written and culturally important." --The Washington Post

"The epic baseball tale of the second half of the 20th century." --Atlanta Journal Constitution

After his retirement in 1976, Aaron's reputation only grew in magnitude. But his influence extended beyond statistics. Based on meticulous research and extensive interviews The Last Hero reveals how Aaron navigated the upheavals of his time--fighting against racism while at the same time benefiting from racial progress--and how he achieved his goal of continuing Jackie Robinson's mission to obtain full equality for African Americans, both in baseball and society, while he lived uncomfortably in the public eye.

Howard Bryant is the author of Shut Out: A Story of Race and Baseball in Boston, which was a finalist for the Society for American Baseball Research's 2003 Seymour Medal, and Juicing the Game: Drugs, Power, and the Fight for the Soul of Major League Baseball. He is a senior writer for ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine; appears regularly on ESPN's The Sports Reporters, ESPN First Take, and Outside the Lines; and serves as sports correspondent for NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday. He lives in western Massachusetts.

Visit the author's website at: www.howardbryant.net.