Negative Positive
Title: Charming and funny
Review: The title of this book comes from Charles and Mary Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, as Donald Elliott attempts to invite us into the world of opera the way the Lambs do for the world of Shakespeare. Lamb's Tales from Great Operas takes the name literally and is illustrated with all manner of absurd and comic ink drawings of muttons performing opera, to great effect. Arrowood's illustrations are fabulous, and Elliott always explains the scene each drawing derives from. We are introduced to seventeen operas: two from the 18th century, eleven from the 19th century, and four from the 20th century. The text is unfailingly charming, and would be suitable for both lovers of opera or the curious and sympathetic uninitiated.
Is the review positive or negative? 