Richard Wagner and the Centrality of Love is a bold book which argues that Wagners music dramas cannot be understood if treated separately from his essays; his life; the intellectual and artistic climate of his day; and the broader history of Germany. Wagner attempts a range of reconciliations that are radical in content and form and appear to succeed partly because he is in well-nigh complete command of the aesthetic product; not only text and music; but also production practice. Nonetheless; all the reconciliations ultimately break down; but in a manner that is illuminating. This isnot a celebration of the seamless work of art; but a radical unpicking of the seemingly seamless. Love is the central organising concept of the whole Wagnerian project. Love - sexual and spiritual; egotistical and charitable; love of the individual and of the race - is the key Wagnerian driving force. And therefore so is hate. Of course Wagner cannot employ love without its opposite; andit is critically significant that his anti-semitism is based upon his view that the Jews are loveless. The book handles Wagners anti-semitism (and the ongoing row about it) in a unique way; in thatit is shown to be aesthetically and intellectually productive (for him!). This leads to a radical reinterpretation of Wagners music dramas. BARRY EMSLIE is an independent scholar who lives and teaches in Berlin.
#3217043 in eBooks 2011-10-30 2011-10-30File Name: B00C4GU7UG
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. From the Killer Himself Its Hard to Know Whats for Real and Whats NotBy HuntleyMCI was really excited when I saw that Jerry Lee Lewis was finally writing his autobiography. There were always stories told about Lewis and his Rock and Roll lifestyle that were too unbelievable to be true. Reading this book it is still hard to tell if the stories are true; made-up or a little bit of both. Even at one point in the book Lewis himself says that he likes to embellish the stories a little so much that at this point he doesnt know himself what is true and what is made-up.Author Rick Bragg has done a tremendous amount of research for this book and sometimes that really bogs down the reading. There are times that it seems Bragg shares a story from Lewis to only retell it in his own words. Bragg also really like to examine aspects of Lewis life to see how it affected him later in life. There is a lot of pages to breakdown the trip to England when it was discovered that Lewis had married his thirteen year old cousin. It was interesting to read how hard Lewis worked in small bars around the world regain his spot atop the Billboard charts.I would recommend Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story for anyone that is interested in on of the huge influences from the early years of Rock and Roll. Some people may find this book to be overwhelming with information but I think in the end they will enjoy the adventure that is Jerry Lee Lewis life.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. I am a Rick Bragg fan; and that is ...By J. HaydenI am a Rick Bragg fan; and that is the reason I bought this book. I remember when Jerry Lee Lewis was making headlines every day and the papers at the time censored much of what he was doing; essentially writing him off when he married his 13 year old cousin. Well; along with Ricks superb style of writing combined with his subject; there was no way that this could be anything but a compelling read. And that is what it is; a well-written book about a fascinating character (a little crazy; maybe a whole lot crazy; but fascinating anyway).3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Life Drama of Jerry Lee Lewis by the one great writer that could tell it; help us understand and appreciate it !By Enrique BridgersEverything you expect and want from a Rick Bragg written story.. we love the way the words and story jumps into your brain when reading Ricks books.. getting this book gave us the chance to meet Rick as he was in a nearby town / book store doing the tour /signing for his Jerry Lee Lewis story.. we made the trip to see him and walked into a nearly empty store and Rick met the wife and I (as we entered) with as fine and genuine Southern Gentleman greeting as you could ask for. The talk he was giving was in an adjacent building where a large crowd was waiting. Could it get any better? Well Yeah;.. We walked to the event with him doing the small talk on a beautiful Saturday morning. He tells a story with every sentence. As a Rockabilly fan; musician and longtime Jerry Lee fan this book is entertaining me thru a miserable; cold winter. A life lived like none youve heard before is the Jerry Lee story..Get the book and be entertained;enlightened and add Rick Bragg / Jerry Lees story to your book collection !