Robert Cantwell Knihy

Bluegrass Breakdown  is an expansive foray into the makings of bluegrass. More than any other book of its kind, it gets to the roots of a uniquely American music that is deeply linked to working-class ideals and romanticism.  Robert Cantwell engages the historical background, commercial origins, internal workings, and cultural and social significance of popular, old-time music to provide a unique musicological and sociological perspective. Well-versed in the history of the tradition and equally as interested in those who listen to the music as in those who create it, Cantwell links bluegrass to its hillbilly roots in Appalachia and shows how the music was transformed by African American folk traditions, the influence of jazz, ragtime, blues, and country music, and the growth of radio and recording technology.

The book presents a literary-critical exploration of love, proposing that its roots lie in the nurturing bond between caregiver and child rather than in physical desire. It emphasizes how love involves a complex interplay between our aesthetic and analytical abilities, allowing us to both recognize and shape our perception of the beloved. This perspective challenges conventional views on romantic love, offering a fresh understanding of its emotional and relational foundations.