Temptation Rag is a historical fiction tour de force, encapsulating the Ragtime era in a tale of love, heartache, ambition and greed.
What begins as an ill-fated romance between an impetuous and spoiled young woman from a well to do banking family and her talented, ambitious piano teacher who hides his Jewish heritage turns quickly into a portrait of an era.
After marrying in haste, the lives of May Convery and Mike Bernard take widely different paths. As he abandons his classical training for a bid at Ragtime glory, May finds herself in the unhappy society marriage she had married Mike to avoid. The trajectories of their lives, both highs and lows, eventually lead to a reunion that is inevitably fraught with emotional hazards.
While framing the narrative around two fictional characters, the author breathes new life into an interesting set of real Ragtime players, most notably Strap Hill and Ben Harney. Though it is Strap’s story here that is particularly interesting. Leading off more than a few chapters and interacting with Mike and, eventually, May, Strap’s story is skillfully woven through and juxtaposed with those of the white performers.
In fleshing out this cast of characters and their world, some of whom might only be mentioned in passing if this were a work of non-fiction, the author does not shy away from depicting the racial tensions and other unsavory realities of the musical theater world in the early 20th century. Along with the casting couch morals of several male characters, Mike included, this makes for a sometimes uncomfortable but ultimately compelling read.
With a mix of fictional and real historical characters, this is a treat for the history buff, the musical theater devotee, and the historical fiction reader. Definitely one to revisit and dig deeper into with each reread.
Temptation Rag by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard | Belle Epoque Publishing, December 2018 | paperback, 410 pages
This review refers to an Advance Reading Copy I voluntarily received from Smith Publicity for a bookstagram feature on Instagram. A review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
Book description:
What is the price of freedom? How do we leave a legacy? Can we ever forgive the unforgivable? A deeply human story of love, lies, and the power of music from the author of The Beauty Doctor, Finalist for the 2018 Eric Hoffer Book Award, 2017 AZ Literary Awards, and a Medallion Honoree of the Book Readers’ Appreciation Group.
Seventeen-year-old May Convery, unhappy with her privileged life in turn-of-the-century New York City, dreams of becoming a poet. When she meets the talented young Mike Bernard, an aspiring concert pianist, she immediately falls in love. But after their secret liaison is discovered, neither is prepared for the far-reaching consequences that will haunt them for decades. As Mike abandons serious music to ruthlessly defend his hard-won title, Ragtime King of the World, May struggles to find her voice as an artist and a woman. It is not until years after their youthful romance, when they cross paths again, that they must finally confront the truth about themselves and each other. But is it too late?
The world of ragtime is the backdrop for a remarkable story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the human need to find forgiveness. From vaudeville’s greatest stars to the geniuses of early African American musical theater, an unforgettable cast of real-life characters populates this richly-fictionalized historical saga.
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