Customer Reviews

Treemonisha

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It is indeed good news to see Scott Joplin's Treemonisha published as a children's book. In addition to its artistic qualities, Joplin hoped that his opera would promote social change among his people. Most were living in conditions not much better than slavery and he knew that the way to prosperity was through education, such as he had been privileged to receive. The idea that Treemonisha is about feminist issues is completely absurd. I don't have a friend whose father was a member of Joplin's band but I do know what Joplin personally had to say in the preface to the opera: "Treemonisha was the only educated person in the neighborhood, the other children being still in ignorance on account of their inablility to travel so far to school. Treemonisha, being eighteen years old, now starts on her career as a teacher and leader." Obviously education was the key to Treemonisha's status. That she is a woman simply serves to point out that education empowers all, black and white, male and female.

I enjoyed reading your book. A friend of mine, knowning that I had written the story also, and am awaiting its printing, brought me a copy. Your illustrator is very good. I enjoyed his work. Somehow, I got the impression that Remus becomes the leader of the village. Am I correct. If so, that is not what Joplin was about. He was about female leadership. That is why she asked the question to the crowd three times in three different ways. That is also why the opera was not picked up by the publishers. Woman sufferage was a sore topic at that time, and would not have created a reason for another million dollar block buster for them. Joplin was way ahead of his time in that aspect. I have a friend whose father was in Joplin's band, and she was able to give me added insight to the man. I'm glad you did the book. Nevilla E. Ottley