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4 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Poznansky's book is incomplete, 8 April 1999
By A Customer
There is nothing in my review that mentions Tchaikovsky's music, it is only about him as a man. So, if you're not interested in my thoughts concerning his sexuality, and what I think his thoughts were about women, you probably won't want to read the rest of this. Anyway, I read this book, and I found a great amount of information some of which I personally thought curiously interesting regarding some of Tchaikovsky's statements or behavior. That is what I liked about the book. However, what I found interesting, psychologically, wasn't commented on by Poznansky. I don't know how interested he is in psychology concerning Tchaikovsky, but I think it's important because his book is suppose to find out more about the man personally. There are many statements Tchaikovsky made where I asked myself, "What did he mean by that?". It was frustrating for me because Poznansky didn't respond to some of Tchaikovsky's remarks or behavior. We all know that Tchaikovsky lived a homosexual lifestyle. Before, I thought that he just didn't find women interesting, sexually. But, my thought in Tchaikovsky's case, is that his sexual choice was based on a whole lot more than mere sexual taste. I read many books on Tchaikovsky and books on psychology (I'm not a psychologist nor a writer). We know that he was extremely shy, nervous, afraid at times, sensitive to a fault and inhibited. His perception of women or the feminine was based on teaching, and the women he grew up with. I think he saw them as basically uninterested in sensuous pleasure and sex (except to make babies or money). He learned from school that boys enjoyed sex, and he played with his own kind. His father may have acted somewhat erotic, and sensitive Tchaikovsky picked up on it. I think Tchaikovsky's mother liked him when he was young and obedient, but later something changed between them when he tried to express himself. I think he may have had mixed feelings about his mom, but would never ever directly say it. Anyhow, I could go on, but I don't want to make this review too long. However, the KEY TO TCHAIKOVSKY IS HIS CHILDHOOD! I don't think he was born homosexual, but rather he was born with certain emotional qualities and personality traits. Anyway, I read the book a few years ago, and I don't want to read it again because I don't like the way Poznansky ignores some of the little things Tchaikovsky said or did. This information Poznansky has in his book of which he thinks irrelevant and offers no psychology, I personally find interestingly curious. Please correct me if my memory of the following is incorrect :Tchaikovsky said something like the one good thing about his future wife was that she loved him like a cat, and that he needs to be in control. Why did he have to be in control? He also said that Maria Anderson looked like a cat, and I think he observed her rubbing herself against something or someone. Psychologically, an animal represents a physical or primal thought I think. It's physicality or sensuality. Tchaikovsky put in his diary something about a woman with a gold filling, and he said that his manservant's girlfriend had nice looking teeth. In addition, he said she was pretty and delectable. Why did he write in his diary about a woman's gold filling? Psychologically, it could symbolize something sexual. He said he loved his mom in a sick way. Maybe he meant that the best thing about her was her physical touch. He says that maternal or sexual, it makes no difference. I thought that was a strange thing to say. Also, the poem Lily of the Valley, Poznansky said it could be about a male lover. I could be wrong, but the poem could be about his mom. At first, he was hesitant to see, be with or visit his niece. Then, he saw her playing a leg game with some guy, and after he saw her monstrous behavior (he was quite taken by surprise), he visited to see her even unexpectedly. Also, he talks about her special female organs to someone. Tchaikovsky didn't have to mention that. Also, Tchaikovsky was watching two different types of animals playing together. I think he made a comment that he was surprised to see it. I think he liked the idea of what he saw, and I personally think the two different animals he saw playing represented for him a man and a woman. I can't make this review too long, so I will stop with my list. One last thing, I think Tchaikovsky's "inclinations" was not about homosexuality in particular. Tchaikovsky may have meant that he was a very physical, sensual person in general. I personally think that if a particular woman came into his life, he would have wanted her sexually, but without consequences. Anyhow, I don't remember Poznansky making any effort to analyze this specific information he puts in his book. I think Poznansky said that Tchaikovsky didn't want sex with women. Well, that's not good enough for me. Sometimes when people have difficulty expressing themselves, like Tchaikovsky, what they say can be more interesting than what they actually do. * Please reply to my review. If you want, I will talk to you and tell you more of what I think about Tchaikovsky.
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by Alex Ross
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