This volume investigates the life and creative output of Scott Joplin to determine his foundational role in the development of ragtime music. Edward A. Berlin, a recognized scholar in the field of American music, utilizes extensive archival research and primary source documentation to reconstruct the composer's biography. The text argues that Joplin's contributions were central to the evolution of American popular music at the turn of the 20th century, providing a rigorous framework for understanding his artistic legacy.

Experts and music historians frequently cite this work as the definitive biographical account of Scott Joplin. Readers often note the meticulous research and the author's ability to contextualize the composer's work within the broader history of American music.