Melomaniacs
By James Huneker
11 Feb, 2020
Twenty-four short stories dealing with musicians--pianists, composers, singers--or music-listeners.
“Their vulgarity, their brutality, their frivolity, their emotional delirium," declared the New York Times Book Review, "are supposedly part of t
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Twenty-four short stories dealing with musicians--pianists, composers, singers--or music-listeners.
“Their vulgarity, their brutality, their frivolity, their emotional delirium," declared the New York Times Book Review, "are supposedly part of the artistic temperament, and do perhaps represent the temptations of the artistic temperament indulged. There is, of course, a certain number of musicians who appear in general society who understand their art, and who, when they talk of it, are more inclined to talk of technique and form than of the emotions produced of their genius. But these are not the musicians portrayed by Mr. Huneker with the daring and we must suppose with the accuracy of a sergeant . . . To anyone who wants to look into the dingy confusion of modern 'Bohemianism' with its unconventional lovemaking, its mingling of art with beer and brandy, its effervescent emotions and its passionate ambitions we commend this book. It will enlighten if it does not please them.” Less