Welcome to America at the turn of the twentieth century where the rhythms ofragtime set the beat. Harry Houdini astonishes audiences with magical feats ofescape... » 

Welcome to America at the turn of the twentieth century where the rhythms ofragtime set the beat. Harry Houdini astonishes audiences with magical feats ofescape the mighty J. P. Morgan dominates the financial world and Henry Fordmanufactures cars by making men into machines. Emma Goldman preaches free loveand feminism while exchorus girl Evelyn Nesbitt inspires a mad millionaire tomurder the architect Stanford White. In this stunningly original chronicle ofan age such reallife characters intermingle with three remarkable familiesone black one Jewish and one prosperous WASP to create a dazzling literarymosaic that brings to life an era of dire poverty fabulous wealth andincredible change in short the era of ragtime. «