literature and music and art

Easter break coming up. Good to stretch the mind by working on something else. I plan to read a big fat biography of the great composer Richard Wagner - need time to get into it.... there is lots of analysis of how he composed, his sources and thinking...should be fun.

Anyone else got a similar interest - go to the opera...? or maybe the Proms in the Summer - much to be recommended, and also broadcast on Radio 3.

So what do people read... I have been going through an historical novel paralleling the lives of Wellington and Napoleon...this is vol2, Wellington in India and Napoleon in Italy and France - its Faction, but substantially true.

Its great for me, I really knew nothing about British imperial history other than that it was imperial colonisation, and its people were exploited and have now got free - but the Georgian view was different (George 111). India was full of small warring states which we 'pacified'. And then exploited of course, but it wasn't all bad. Anyway it reads well - author is Simon Scarrow.

I have also been to the Russian art exhibition at the Royal Academy. Very varied collection, so something for everything. Huge - 9 rooms. I was there for 2 hours and then back for another hour later. Next is the Cranach exhibition also at the RA.

Anyway, good for the old brainbox to sniff out other interests ...

Cheers
Tamara