Tom Holliday's biography of Carlisle Floyd documents the distinguished career of one of our most beloved artists and teachers, with vivid descriptions of creative ideas transformed into the operas we know and love. Introducing a large cast of real characters central to the development of an American opera repertoire, Holliday captures the composer's poetic insight into the medium's essence.-Marc Scorca: President and CEO, Opera America Tom Holliday's astonishingly comprehensive biography of one of America's preeminent composers makes great reading because it marries the private and the professional, the trials and the triumphs of a long and fascinating career.-Hal Prince, Tony Award-winning producer and director