The village fiddler was the first to notice how the quiet, shy young boy's eyes lit up, how he stood bewitched when he heard music. But when the fiddler suggested to his parents that the child study music, they could not believe their ears. "Music! He's a peasant! We cannot afford such and education!" Little could they know that the entire world would one day react to the divine melodies of Giuseppe Verdi as he had to the simple tunes of a wandering minstrel.

With the help of the church organist, Giuseppe was able to enter into the world that he loved. He repaid the old man by his astounding talent and at the age of twelve became the village organist. But the struggle of the poor peasant boy to fulfill his ambition was to prove long and hard. Although he produced his own opera when only twenty-one, tragedy was to bring an abrupt halt to his career. It was once again through the devotion of his friends that he was able to resume his work and produce such operas as Rigoletto, Otello, and Aida.

Verdi's fame, however, was not confined to the world of opera. Because his music captured the nationalistic spirit of the Italian people, he was persuaded to participate in politics. "Viva Verdi" was a cry that rang through Italy during its struggle for national independence and unity, and Verdi's arias became the songs of patriots. He became a member of the first National Parliament in Italy and later a senator.

This is the story of a gifted and unusual man whose patriotic fervor and contribution to music gained him everlasting fame and glory.

From the dust jacket