Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Monk's angular melodies and dissonant harmonies helped birth bebop, establishing him as one of America's greatest composers. Despite his musical genius, public perception often focused on his eccentric behavior rather than his contributions. Historian Robin D. G. Kelley reveals a different Monk: witty, intelligent, generous, politically engaged, and a devoted family man. This biography tells the story of an artist's fight to succeed without compromising his musical vision, reflecting twentieth-century American history.