[*] Tchaikovsky, Modeste. [Life of Peter Il’ich Tchaikovsky]; ed. and abridged from the Russian and German eds. by Rosa Newmarch. [*]$5. Lane.
This “volume contains many portraits and excellent views of scenes connected with Tchaikovsky’s life, with a striking portrait, and facsimiles of letters written by the musician. The editor has tried to preserve, in spite of the cutting of three volumes to one, the autobiographical character of the work, and has included the series of intimate letters which relates the romantic episode of Tchaikovsky’s life—his friendship of thirteen years for a woman with whom he never exchanged a personal greeting. An account of the composer’s visit to America ... is also included in the form of a diary, kept for the benefit of his relations.”—N. Y. Times.
[*] “Yet in its kind it possesses great value, not only as a contribution to the psychology of art, but as a most illuminating commentary on Tchaikovsky’s music. We may add that the translation is easy and fluent, and that the volume is well arranged and well illustrated.”
| + + | Lond. Times. 4: 397. N. 17, ‘05. 590w. |
[*] “The book is one of great interest to musical people.”
| + | N. Y. Times. 10: 824. D. 2, ‘05. 150w. |
[*] “But the present life, containing, as it does, an enormous amount of interesting material, still fails to hold one’s attention for the simple reason that it is too long and is padded out with stuff that ought not to be in any biography. On the whole, the book was more stimulating in its original condition; but in its present form it will serve a future biographer.”
| + — | Sat. R. 100: sup. 5. N. 18, ‘05. 130w. |
[*] “Must content ourselves with congratulating Mrs. Newmarch on the zeal and intelligence with which she has accomplished her task. Of the delicacy, the candour, and the affection shown by M. Modeste Tchaikovsky it is impossible to speak too highly.” C. L. G.
| + + + | Spec. 95: 864. N. 25, ‘05. 1400w. |