[ILLUSTRATIONS]
| To face page | |
| GIACOMO PUCCINI | [Frontispiece] |
| From an autographed copy of a photograph by Bertieri, Turin, in the possession of the author | |
| PUCCINI'S BIRTHPLACE IN THE VIA DEL POGGIO, LUCCA | [8] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| CHURCH OF ST. PIETRO, SOMALDI WHERE PUCCINI WAS ORGANIST | [12] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| PUCCINI AND FONTANA, THE LIBRETTIST AT THE TIME | [18] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| PUCCINI'S VILLA AT TORRE DEL LAGO | [22] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| PUCCINI IN HIS 24-H.P. "LA BUIRE" MOTOR-CAR | [24] |
| From a photograph by R. de Guili & Co., Lucca | |
| PUCCINI AFTER A "SHOOT" | [28] |
| From a photograph by S. Ernesto Arboco | |
| PUCCINI IN HIS STUDY AT TORRE DEL LAGO | [40] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| PUCCINI IN HIS MILAN HOUSE | [48] |
| From a photograph specially taken by Adolfo Ermini, Milan | |
| PUCCINI MANUSCRIPT SCORE. FROM THE SECOND ACT OF "TOSCA" | [50] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| MISS ALICE ESTY AS MIMI IN "LA BOHÈME" | [68] |
| From a photograph lent by Madame Alice Esty | |
| PUCCINI MANUSCRIPT SCORES. FROM THE LAST ACT OF "LA BOHÈME" | [72] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| [*]PUCCINI IN "MORNING DRESS" (NATIONAL PEASANT COSTUME) AT TORRE DEL LAGO | [82] |
| [*]PUCCINI SHOOTING ON THE LAKE AT TORRE DEL LAGO | [82] |
| [*]PUCCINI SNOWBALLING IN SICILY | [86] |
| [*]PUCCINI WRESTLING AT POMPEII | [86] |
| [*]PUCCINI DESCENDING ETNA ON A MULE | [90] |
| [*]PUCCINI ON HIS FARM AT CHIATRI | [90] |
| PUCCINI AT TORRE DEL LAGO IN HIS MOTOR-BOAT "BUTTERFLY" | [96] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| PUCCINI'S MANUSCRIPT. FIRST SKETCH FOR THE END OF THE FIRST ACT OF "MADAMA BUTTERFLY" | [102] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| PUCCINI'S MANUSCRIPT SCORES. FROM THE FIRST ACT OF "MADAMA BUTTERFLY" | [112] |
| From a photograph lent by Messrs. Ricordi | |
| [*]From a series of snapshots given to the author by Signor Puccini (Copyright reserved) | |
[CONTENTS]
| CHAP. | PAGE | |
| I. | PUCCINI, AND THE OPERA IN GENERAL | [1] |
| II. | PUCCINI'S EARLY LIFE | [9] |
| III. | THE PUCCINI OF YESTERDAY AND TO-DAY | [19] |
| IV. | "LE VILLI" | [30] |
| V. | "EDGAR" | [40] |
| VI. | "MANON" | [50] |
| VII. | "LA BOHÈME" | [68] |
| VIII. | "TOSCA" | [83] |
| IX. | "MADAMA BUTTERFLY" | [101] |