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by Tim Dalgleish (Author)
In November 1923, Max Ehrmann-author of the classic "Desiderata"-sat down with acclaimed novelist Theodore Dreiser, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, for an extraordinary two-day conversation. Their subject: the life and legacy of Paul Dresser, Dreiser's brother and the composer behind "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," one of the nineteenth century's best-selling songs.
When Paul Dresser died in 1906, he was a penniless alcoholic, his reputation overshadowed by scandal and decline. Determined to restore Dresser's legacy, Ehrmann embarked on a mission to document the true story behind the composer's life. In this compelling volume, Tim Dalgleish explores the background to Ehrmann's quest, the complex relationship between Ehrmann and Dreiser, and the shared roots of all three men in Terre Haute, Indiana. The book reveals the far-reaching consequences of their meeting in Washington, D.C., and how it reshaped the memory of one of America's forgotten musical legends.
