Scott Joplin and the Ragtime Era

Rating:
Summary: A sympathetic look at a great American artist
Review: Scott Joplin is _the_ name in Ragtime, and this book does a fine job of tracing what is known about his life and career. It's obviously written by a fan, though, and to my mind doesn't do enough to place Joplin in the context of his times (for a book with the title "Scott Joplin and the Ragtime Era", that is). Its comments on the early record industry are most revealing, however, and the black-and-white photos are above average. For ragtime fans and those who are interested in the roots of modern popular music.