The early 20th-century obsession with child prodigies was well documenting in tabloid newspapers, turning the kids into national celebrities. Courtesy of the author In the first few decades of the ...

Child prodigies focus on single pursuits—chess, music, art—and excel at an early age. But most do not grow up to be geniuses, no matter how flawlessly they master a skill; often, their solitary focus ...

We often grow up believing that greatness reveals itself early. The chess prodigy, the child violinist, the teenage sports star — these stories dominate how we imagine success is born. However, a new ...

Matt Haimovitz is 42 and a world-renowned cellist. He rushed into the classical music scene at age 10 after Itzhak Perlman, the famed violinist, heard him play. "By the time I was 12, 13 years old I ...

Delphine von Schauroth (1813–1887) was spectacularly famous in the early 19th century. The German virtuoso pianist and composer was hailed as a musical genius by critics for her powerful and inventive ...

In the first few decades of the 20th century, child prodigies became national celebrities. Much like the movie stars, industrial titans and heavyweight champs of the day, their exploits were glorified ...