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Irving Berlin: New York Genius Audiobook
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A fast-moving, musically astute portrait of arguably the greatest composer of American popular music Irving Berlin (1888-1989) has been called-by George Gershwin, among others-the greatest songwriter of the golden age of the American popular song. "Berlin has no place in American music," legendary composer Jerome Kern wrote; "he is American music." In a career that spanned an astonishing nine decades, Berlin wrote some fifteen hundred tunes, including "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "God Bless America," and "White Christmas." From ragtime to the rock era, Berlin's work has endured in the very fiber of American national identity. Exploring the intertwining of Berlin's life with the life of New York City, noted biographer James Kaplan offers a visceral narrative of Berlin as self-made man and witty, wily, tough Jewish immigrant. This fast-paced, musically opinionated biography uncovers Berlin's unique brilliance as a composer of music and lyrics. Masterfully written and psychologically penetrating, Kaplan's book underscores Berlin's continued relevance in American popular culture.
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“Taut, vibrant, and thrumming with the irresistible words and music of America’s songwriter laureate. It’s by turns a buoyant and poignant trip across the tumultuous twentieth century, through the eyes of an artist who helped define its popular taste. Kaplan reclaims the proud Jewish identity of the patriotic immigrant who knew that his country was blessed, because he had been.”
— Todd S. Purdum, author of Something Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution
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“Kaplan’s take on Irving Berlin is…propulsive and appealing.”
— Wall Street Journal -
"[Berlin’s] miraculous ascent makes up the breeziest sequence in James Kaplan’s empathic biography.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Kaplan’s book is well-documented and written in an enjoyable, conversational style. One senses on every page Kaplan’s enthusiasm for his subject as well as his deep knowledge. This is the best introduction to Berlin’s life and work.”
— New York Journal of Books -
“An extensively researched, entertaining, and nuanced account.”
— Library Journal -
“Kaplan tells the story briskly and with aplomb, adding plenty of showbiz antics, atmospheric evocations of Berlin’s New York, and shrewd critical passages that separate the musical schmaltz from the art…A smart, entertaining biography of a great songwriter that will have readers humming along.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“L. J. Ganser’s lively narration immerses listeners in the well-researched rags-to-riches story…Ganser captures the chutzpah and charisma of the small, dark-haired Jewish musical prodigy…[and] engagingly traces the ups and downs of this incredibly gifted, highly respected, precociously prolific musical genius. Delightful listening.
— AudioFile
Awards
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A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice
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About James Kaplan
James Kaplan is the author of several biographies, books of nonfiction, and novels, including Two Guys from Verona, a New York Times Notable Book of the year. His essays, stories, reviews, and profiles have appeared in numerous magazines, including the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Esquire, and New York. He is a 2012 Guggenheim Fellow
About L. J. Ganser
L. J. Ganser is a multiple Audie Award–winning narrator with over six hundred titles recorded to date. Prized for versatility, his work ranges from preschool books to crime noir thrillers, from astronomical adventures in both science and science fiction, to Arctic Circle high school basketball stories. He lives in New York City with his family and dog, Mars.