Forced to provide for his family from the age of 8 and thrown out of his home into a bitter Moscow winter at age 12; cellist Gregor Piatigorsky began his career as an archetypal struggling artist; using secondhand and borrowed instruments. When the October Revolution forced his escape to Warsaw; he enjoyed initial success with the Warsaw Philharmonic. Relocating to Berlin a few months later; he again struggled in poverty before eventually emerging as solo cellist with the Berlin Philharmonic. Settling in the United States during World II; Piatigorsky continued a brilliant career that cemented his place as one of the twentieth centurys greatest musicians. This all-embracing chronicle of Piatigorskyrsquo;s tempestuous life and career finally reveals the full life story of a musical legend.
#1177618 in eBooks 2015-02-25 1928-11-30File Name: B003Z0BJWK
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. GOOD!By Lorna D.This is one of my favorite books. Filled with societal role reversals and profound statements regarding a womans place in the patriarchal world.6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating and DisturbingBy ReadsGreatBooksThis book was first published with a preface that warned the reader to beware such a novel. for it is the fantasy of an hysteric. If it werent for the fact that early 20th century hysteria was debunked. this would be totally true. Monsieur Venus is a crazy trip into the mind of a woman who wishes to assume the role of a man. without biologically changing anything about herself.The main character. Raoule de Venerande. falls in love with a young. attractive young artist named Jacques. Over the course of the novel. she progressively becomes more public with her wish to be considered a man. which ultimately culminates in one of the most shocking and disturbing endings Ive ever seen - but one which in retrospect seems inevitable.If youre interested in the role that gender plays in identity and have already done some background reading. then this is a great book to turn to.Also. see Rachel Meschs book "The Hysterics Revenge" for a terrific analysis of what this book is trying to show.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. "Monsieur" Venus. an intriguing depraved narrativeBy KiwifunladRachilde wrote this novella when only 20. First published in 1884. it naturally caused an outrage at the time and even read in the 21st Century it is easy to see why. Raoule de Venerande is a wealthy aristocratic Parisian. both a cross dresser and domineering woman. who falls for Jacques Silvert. an androgynously beautiful young impoverished artist. The swapped gender roles of Rauole and Jacques forms the focus of the narrative. Baron Raitolbe. whose unrequited love for Raoule. is also under her bewitching powers. With the homo-erotic ending and the necrophyllic imagery. it is easy to understand this books classification as Decadent.
