Review: The Lark by Laura C. Rader
The Lark
When The Wizard of Oz graced the silver screen in 1939, it changed cinema and popular culture forever. But the true story began decades earlier with the young composer who risked everything to bring it to the Broadway stage.
At the turn of the century, twenty-three-year-old Paul Tietjens is a gifted classical pianist with dreams of greatness and a non-refundable ticket to Europe to study with the master composers of his time.
But when the bank calls in the debt on his family’s Missouri farm, Paul forgoes his dream to save them from financial ruin. Desperate to find a new road to success, he moves to up-and-coming Chicago, where he persuades author L. Frank Baum to collaborate on a comic opera of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, setting the stage for the defining cultural touchstone that we know today.
Paul embarks on his opera with high hopes, but scandal threatens his soaring ambition when he falls in love with his best friend’s beautiful but married sister, and his fears grow as the Wizard of Oz demands not only his talent but his soul.
Inspired by Paul’s 1901 diary, The Lark follows Paul as he journeys from the theaters of Chicago to the streets of Manhattan, from his family’s Missouri farm to the beaches of Michigan, fighting to hang onto the chance of a lifetime, his integrity, and the woman he loves.
The Lark is a poignant biographical historical novel of what can happen when artistic ambition clashes with life’s harsh realities, and how the human spirit can soar above the darkest clouds.
Readers who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction drawn from primary sources, and those who are intrigued by turning points in popular culture, will love this true and previously untold story of the first theatrical adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
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Review:
When I first heard about The Lark, I didn't know what to expect. The jump from farmyard to world stage seemed too big. It was like a dream come true – and then it did, for one young man from rural Missouri.
When I was younger, I watched The Wizard of Oz, the movie, a few times. The music really stays with you. However, I didn't know that it started as a stage play.
We meet young Paul Tietjens, gifted pianist son of German-American farmers. Whilst his brother is helping their father with the farm, Paul has saved money for a one-way ticket to Europe, to study with renowned composers there. But when the bank calls in a loan on the farm that his father had taken out, Paul has no option but to change his plans, and help his family.
Instead, he heads to the big city, which comes as a culture shock. He discovers that rural musical events are very different from professional theatre productions. There is much for Paul to learn. After meeting L. Frank Baum, the idea of putting up a comic opera called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, slowly begins to take shape. But it's not all without trouble...
Paul is an incredibly likeable character. A touch gullible to start with, but he knows what he wants. He is a gifted idealist, learning the ropes of emerging showbiz in the big cities the fast way. He also has flaws, and comes across as abrasive at times. I put his personal development down to his experiences in the real world. Idealists rarely get far without ambition.
An early crush on a girl back home leaves him devastated when she begins to see other men. But it is his later love interest, Katherine, beautiful but married, who nearly leads to his downfall. Despite her marriage, they fall in love, playing a dangerous game. Their love story is exquisite.
I also enjoyed the German traditions mentioned in the novel, in how far they were kept alive even after one generation. It's not only the food, but clubs (Vereine) and other events show how people live their lives in the New World, whilst not quite giving up everything from the Old World. I found this a fascinating glimpse into German immigrant families in America.
In the early 20th-century, the showbiz world was evolving fast. Composers, musicians, singers, directors – the great opportunities offered on stage made for compelling reading, as did Paul's rise to fame. You had to be tough to make it. Another learning curve.
The Lark is an evocatively-written novel that shares the author's incredible research and her respect for Paul's achievements beautifully. Sharing from his own journals, we have a strong sense of watching his success unfold first-hand. It provides us with a front row seat. And the language used in both dialogue and narrative reinforces the era and its quirks incredibly well.
This story is an unusual, high-quality treat for readers who love enthralling stories, with vibrant settings, and realistic characters following their dreams – which sometimes really do come true.
Highly recommended.
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Laura C. Rader
Laura C. Rader is the award-winning author of the biographical historical novel Hatfield 1677. When she isn’t writing, you can find her conducting research, playing her 1905 antique piano, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets.
A native of Southern California, she now lives north of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Connect with Laura:
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