I wanted to be part of it-all of it.Įight years later, I live in Detroit, a city of unbounded dissonance and creativity. Writing is an act of love for the world, in all of its possibilities, Doctorow seemed to say. And their greatest depth is revealed when they are set alongside each other. But here in my hands was a novel that underscored a belief that both true stories and imagined ones matter. I paged through Ragtime for hours, underlining sentences in pencil, readying the class I was to teach before finishing my graduate degree, leaving my intentional community and going on to-I didn’t know what yet. Five years before Howard Zinn published A People’s History of the United States, Ragtime spotlighted history’s outsiders, especially immigrants and African Americans, destabilizing the stories our nation likes to tell itself about itself. The famous characters shed light on the humble ones, making the story of those in search of a name for themselves especially vivid. Then Mother’s Younger Brother, in search of his life’s purpose, runs into the revolutionary Zapatistas in Mexico, but dies soon after. Father lands a spot on Robert Peary’s legendary 1909 North Pole expedition, but he isn’t on the final leg that actually makes the mark. ~Stephanie Grimes, Director Disability Services, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois EventsĪll guest appearances and book signings have been canceled due to our world-wide health crisis.One of the most touching elements of the book is in the characters’ doomed search for a place in history. This is a good read that is engaging, educational and entertaining. I wish I could have had this amazing book in my hands years ago. I have been an avid reader and music lover since childhood. This book is a must for children and adults and has a range of interactive activities and resources that enhances learning about Joplin. Who would have believed that the King of Ragtime was into opera? Masinda can delve into the musical heart of Joplin and portray this musical giant as he rightfully deserves to be depicted. Masinda’s ability to masterfully weave fascinating facts into this book, while highlighting how Joplin’s music was influenced by the era that he lived in, is extraordinary.
The remarkable life of Scott Joplin is brought to life by Gail Masinda, who artfully tells Joplin’s story using a backdrop of cultural and historic information, not well known by many. Cordery, Professor of History, Iowa State University In clear prose, with wonderful illustrations, well-told musical history, and uniquely marvelous online resources, Masinda brings this significant and too-often-overlooked artist to life for young and old alike.
She neither shies away from the racism that Joplin endured, nor fails to illuminate his important musical successes.
This delightful book has something for everyone! Masinda interweaves Joplin’s fascinating life story with train wrecks and presidents, ragtime and opera. Mallette, Director of Operations, Regional Music Heritage Center, Texarkana AR/TX We look forward to further works from Ms. We have partnered to provide programming services for an additional educational interactive resource. The Regional Music Heritage Center in Texarkana is proud to have provided fact checking from the latest research. It utilizes the best principles of instructional technology in combining visual, audio, online resources, and frequent activities that make it fun for students and adults as well. The work is a romp that students will enjoy. Maestro Heights founder and author Gail Masinda’s The Strenuous Life of Scott Joplin is the most important educational work on a composer who has been badly underrepresented. Related: “The Strenuous Life of Scott Joplin Companion Activity Book” (this is pretty cool, too) Reviews:
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