Puccini: A Biography
Hardbound
2002 · Boston
by Phillips-Matz, Mary Jane
Boston: Northeastern University Press, 2002. Hardbound. VG+/VG+ with two very slight marks to top edges of cloth and tiny bit of wear to dj edges. Black cloth with gold spine lettering; black and gold dj with yellow and white lettering and bw photo of Puccini; 343 pp. with 18 illustrations. A very thorough and moving biography of the gifted, complex and tormented composer. The creator of operas such as La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, Tosca, and Turandot, Puccini suffered greatly in his life yet remained elegant and cosmopolitan. Ever passionate about and constant to his native Tuscany, he savored the joys of the outdoors and the simple life after the cutthroat life of the music business. Phillips-Matz has skillfully written an in-depth, revealing portrait of Puccini's personal and musical life. This particular edition is beautifully inscribed by the author to William Weaver, who wrote the foreword for the book. Weaver was a well-known music critic, author, and translator of works from Italian to English. (Inventory #: 114126)