The Scott Joplin Rag
About this audiobook
A testament to the power of creating beauty in the face of oppression, this stunning book is a stirring and insightful meditation on the life and times of the first great composer of American music, Scott Joplin, known as the King of Ragtime and recipient of a posthumous Pulitzer Prize.
In this radiant introduction to Scott Joplin’s life and legacy, bestselling author Jonah Winter’s poetic text and Cathy Ann Johnson’s breathtaking illustrations highlight the beauty that seemed to flow from Joplin into his immortal hits, including “The Maple Leaf Rag” and “The Entertainer.” And though Joplin faced harsh challenges as a Black man writing music in the Jim Crow era, his brilliant work endures, played by today’s young pianists, treasured by generations, and standing as a testament to the power of art to transcend dark times.
Complete with detailed backmatter, this special story explores such themes as:
- Joplin’s life and work as a Black artist in the Jim Crow and Tin Pan Alley eras
- How new technology—printed sheet music—made Joplin’s compositions widely available
- The revival of Joplin’s music and its continuing significance
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About the author
Jonah Winter is the award-winning author of more than forty nonfiction picture books, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book; Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, winner of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award and a Kirkus Prize finalist; and the New York Times bestselling Barack. Mr. Winter divides his time between New York City and a small town in Pennsylvania.
