Arthur is an African American music major and aspiring composer when circumstances lead him and his friends to serve in WWI. He returns to New York and Washington DC, where he uses his musical talents to fight racial injustice in unvonventional ways. This is standard Percival Everett, with plenty of "what might have been" alternate history and satirized people and institutions. It's not necessary to understand music theory to enjoy the book, but an appreciation for it definitely helps us understand Arthur and how he sees the world.
This was pretty good, at times beautifully written. The first third or so of the book is one of the best WWI narratives I've read (which admiitedly is not many). I'm definitely glad that I read it, though I found it really similar James and some other things I've read. If you like this one or James, I recommend a Everett's collection of western short stories Half and Inch of Water, which is sadly overlooked.
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