Ploughing my way through "War and Peace" at the moment. Every detail is there, Tolstoy misses nothing, and yet this came become exasperating at times.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
What are you reading now?
Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
-
Originally posted by Bakerlite View PostPloughing my way through "War and Peace" at the moment. Every detail is there, Tolstoy misses nothing, and yet this came become exasperating at times.'Man know thyself'
Comment
-
It is difficult to say something new about everyday things. These words from Plato testify to it, I think.
Our music was once divided into its proper forms... It was not permitted to exchange the melodic styles of these established forms and others. Knowledge and informed judgment penalized disobedience. There were no whistles, unmusical mob-noises, or clapping for applause. The rule was to listen silently and learn; boys, teachers, and the crowd were kept in order by threat of the stick. . . .
But later, an unmusical anarchy was led by poets who had natural talent, but were ignorant of the laws of music...Through foolishness they deceived themselves into thinking that there was no right or wrong way in music, that it was to be judged good or bad by the pleasure it gave. By their works and their theories they infected the masses with the presumption to think themselves adequate judges. So our theatres, once silent, grew vocal, and aristocracy of music gave way to a pernicious theatrocracy... the criterion was not music, but a reputation for promiscuous cleverness and a spirit of law-breaking.Last edited by Enrique; 07-16-2013, 06:30 PM.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Megan View PostMarie Antoinette
By Antonia Fraser.
Marie Antoinette was one of Gluck's music pupils.Last edited by Enrique; 12-06-2013, 11:29 AM.
Comment
-
Originally posted by AeolianHarp View PostWhilst I deplore violence Enrique and think the Revolution got out of hand, one need to remember the indignities the poor faced every day. Have you any idea of the hell they were living?'Man know thyself'
Comment
-
Originally posted by Peter View PostI'm not sure things improved for the poor much after the revolution. It was the same with the Russian revolution.Ludwig van Beethoven
Den Sie wenn Sie wollten
Doch nicht vergessen sollten
Comment
-
Originally posted by Sorrano View PostCurrently reading Les Miserables. This book paints a pretty bleak picture, as well, of life after the revolution.'Man know thyself'
Comment
-
The money spent by Louis XVI and his court was a trifle compared with that spent during the costly wars waged by Louis XIV, which left France financially in ruins and the way of life the king imposed on his court, which made the nobility residing at Versailles dilapidate huge fortunes until, bankrupt, they had to live on the royal favour. And what good did the Revolution do to France? From that moment on the French lived going from one extreme to the other, from monarchy to republic and from republic to monarchy and back to republic. Is not the present one the Third Republic?
Just read Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Powerful. He certainly was a genius.Last edited by Enrique; 12-06-2013, 08:05 PM.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Peter View PostYes wonderful book, the only annoying thing I found was the lengthy historical interjections in the story, even though valid, they break the continuity.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Enrique View PostThe money spent by Louis XVI and his court was a trifle compared with that spent during the costly wars waged by Louis XIV, which left France financially in ruins and the way of life the king imposed on his court, which made the nobility residing at Versailles dilapidate huge fortunes until, bankrupt, they had to live on the royal favour. And what good did the Revolution do to France? From that moment on the French lived going from one extreme to the other, from monarchy to republic and from republic to monarchy and back to republic. Is not the present one the Third Republic?
Just read Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Powerful. He certainly was a genius.
Comment
Comment