Diaghilev (1872-1929) is a character on the scale of myth. Growing up in a minor noble family in remote Perm, as a very young man he became an influential art historian and publisher in St Petersburg. Moving soon onto a bigger stage, he became a central figure in the artistic worlds of Paris, London, Rome, Berlin and Madrid during the golden age of modern art. He lived through bankruptcy, war, revolution and exile. Furthermore he lived openly as a homosexual and his liaisons, most famously with Nijinsky, and his turbulent friendships with among others Stravinsky, Coco Chanel, Misia Sert, Prokoviev and Jean Cocteau give his life an exceptionally dramatic quality. The last biography was thirty years ago. Scheijen's biography is based on extensive research in little known archives, especially in Russia, is revelatory and brings a complex and powerful personality with boundless creative energy fully to life.
Diaghilev: A Life
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Review
`Superb biography... the definitive life of Diaghilev' -- Bee Wilson, Sunday Times
`Scheijen's portrait is drawn with a sharp nib' --Luke Jennings, Observer
`It's a fabulous, complicated, very sexy story and Sjeng Scheijen takes us through it with a steadying calm that fudges none of the outrage on or off stage' --Duncan Fallowell, Daily Express
'elegantly translated... a well-balanced, many-sided view of this most complex and exasperating of personalities' --Rupert Christiansen, Literary Review
`Reading this biography is as stimulating as plugging yourself into the national grid' --Frances Wilson, Sunday Times Best Biographies of 2009
'Magnificent...filled with extraordinary glamour' --Rupert Christiansen, Mail on Sunday
`Compelling'
-- Clement Crisp, Dancing Times
'a revelation... a remarkable achievement'
--Andrew Green, Classical Music Magazine
'A joy to handle and a lucid pleasure to read' --David Nice, BBC Music Magazine
`Scheijen's portrait is drawn with a sharp nib' --Luke Jennings, Observer
`It's a fabulous, complicated, very sexy story and Sjeng Scheijen takes us through it with a steadying calm that fudges none of the outrage on or off stage' --Duncan Fallowell, Daily Express
'elegantly translated... a well-balanced, many-sided view of this most complex and exasperating of personalities' --Rupert Christiansen, Literary Review
`Reading this biography is as stimulating as plugging yourself into the national grid' --Frances Wilson, Sunday Times Best Biographies of 2009
'Magnificent...filled with extraordinary glamour' --Rupert Christiansen, Mail on Sunday
`Compelling'
-- Clement Crisp, Dancing Times
'a revelation... a remarkable achievement'
--Andrew Green, Classical Music Magazine
'A joy to handle and a lucid pleasure to read' --David Nice, BBC Music Magazine
Book Description
A major new biography of Serge Diaghilev, founder of the Ballets Russes, who revolutionised ballet, bringing together composers like Stravinsky and Prokoviev, dancers and choreographers like Nijinsky and Balanchine and artists like Picasso, Matisse, Bakst and Goncharova. An impresario of all the arts, he made a huge contribution to the arts of the twentieth century.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By J. Smith
Format:Hardcover
A generally enlightening account of a fascinating if not sometimes repulsive genius. Full of fascinating detail, it is let down on a couple of occasions by a few foolish inaccuracies.
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By K. Catleugh
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Diaghilev, an extremely complex character had a huge influence on the artistic scene of his age. This book may not add a great deal of new material to the published literature which already exists on various facets of the cultural scene in the Europe of his time, but it does pull together all these elements to give a much more complete feel for the period. Social, historic, political and artistic interests are well served by this very well researched and readable work.
KC
KC
6 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By S. Ramsey-Hardy
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
A very disappointing book on a life which is (should be) enthralling. This new work in no way compares to the wonderful biography of Diaghilev by Richard Buckle, which carries you into an exciting and glittering world.
The writing here is not inspiring, is usually pedestrian, and sometimes lapses into distressing trans-atlantic slang ("the classiest hotel in Moscow"), which is worlds away from the fastidious and dignified man Diaghilev was. For the most part, the characters in this account fail to take on convincing life and individuality.
Readers hoping to be thrilled by this extraordinary life should look immediately to Richard Buckle's biography, to read a completely enthralling story they will probably never forget.
The writing here is not inspiring, is usually pedestrian, and sometimes lapses into distressing trans-atlantic slang ("the classiest hotel in Moscow"), which is worlds away from the fastidious and dignified man Diaghilev was. For the most part, the characters in this account fail to take on convincing life and individuality.
Readers hoping to be thrilled by this extraordinary life should look immediately to Richard Buckle's biography, to read a completely enthralling story they will probably never forget.
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