Regardless of what one thinks of that Hollywoodish distortion of her life story, it did stimulate an interest in the late Lady Day, though one might speculate as to whether the effect would have been the same had the film starred someone other than Diana Ross, a reigning queen of pop culture.

The book has quite a few plot holes. For example, it's never explained why the main character came to town.

The visitatrix has the right and obligation of interrogating the religious whom she deems it well to hear and of informing herself on those matters that pertain to the visitation;

During this operation the insects are constantly stirred about with a tin ladle; and sometimes water is sprinkled upon them, to prevent absolute torrefaction, which would destroy the colour, and reduce them to a coal ;