Ragtime: A Musical and Cultural History - Paperback

by Edward Berlin (Author)

Ragtime, the jaunty, toe-tapping music that captivated American society from the 1890s through World War I, forms the roots of America's popular musical expression. But the understanding of ragtime and its era has been clouded by a history of murky impressions, half-truths, and inventive fictions. Ragtime: A Musical and Cultural History cuts through the murkiness. A methodical survey of thousands of rags along with an examination of then-contemporary opinions in magazines and newspapers demonstrate how the music evolved, and how America responded to it.

Author Biography

Edward A. Berlin's books, articles, and lectures have changed our understanding of ragtime history. Challenging the unsupported claims of earlier scholars, he presents documented facts and tightly reasoned interpretations, bringing a new standard of critical thinking to ragtime commentary. In addition to Ragtime, he has published King of Ragtime: Scott Joplin and His Era and Reflections and Research on Ragtime.