Description
About the Author
Philip Furia was Professor of English and American Studies at the University of North Carolina - Wilmington. He was the author of several other books on the relationship between American poetry and music. Laurie J. Patterson has co-written three books, including this one, with Phil Furia. The two, together, researched the music and poetry of Tin Pan Alley for over two decades with Laurie joining the writing team in 2010.
Reviews
[A] fascinating history of the popular lyricists....A triumph worth trumpeting. * St. Louis Post-Dispatch *
Sophisticated, literate....A welcome addition to the sparse lyrics-as-literature shelf. * Kirkus Reviews *
Well-written and interesting....A good history of American popular culture. * Choice *
Furia not only pays tribute to the great lyricists but does it with a joy and flair that ingratiates itself to the reader page upon page....Overall, pleasure reading and then some. * West Coast Review of Books *
The author's love and enthusiasm for his subject, and also the fact that you can't help humming while reading, make this the rare book of literary criticism that is downright enjoyable. * Booklist *
Apparently all the younger lyricists of the present day freely acknowledge that they are not as gifted as Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Lorenz Hart, and other early masters of the art form. Along comes Mr. Furia's admirable study to provide more than ample documentation. It goes without saying that any professional or would-be lyricist ought to eagerly devour every page, but even those who pay more disinterested attention to the popular arts will be fascinated by this insightful analysis. * Steve Allen *
A lovingly conceived, scholarly, and entertaining tribute to the great popular wordsmiths of this century. It is well researched and contains much fascinating information. I recommend it. * Michael Feinstein *
The first scholarly study of the lyrics of Tin Pan Alley, placing these texts in the sweep of American literature, analyzing not only their overall poetic style but individual variations as well....Invaluable. * Charles Hamm, Dartmouth College *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190906474
Author Philip Furia
Format Paperback
Page Count 736
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 1238g
Dimensions(mm) 156mm * 237mm * 41mm