The account rings true. Intriguing and meticulously produced.
TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT Knowing the composer can mean everything. Hartmann worked with Debussy on transcriptions of his work and smoked many cigarettes in his company. In the Hartmann book, you sift through sentimental language, and indeed, Debussy comes off like a character in Poe's 'Fall of ... Read morethe House of Usher'...This kind of music wasn't created for frivolous reasons. Composers write because they must.
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER [David Patrick Stearns] [Hartmann] knew everyone who was anyone; he was also blessed with the ability to write beautifully about his acquaintances. A treasure of a book.
Jessica Duchen, author of Gabriel Faure (Phaidon) This is a fine account of a remarkable life story, just as well paced as any of Hartmann's own literary endeavors...a delightful book: the sort that leads you captivated from page to page.
THE MUSICAL TIMES A precious testimony: the vivid nature of [Hartmann's] anecdotes encourages one to gain a striking sense of the atmosphere around Debussy and of his personality. . . . contribute[s] appreciably to the ever-evolving image of Debussy and his circle. . . . The Debussy letters now published [here for the first time, and with translations,] will promote further understanding. . . . Serious students of Debussy's life and nature, and perhaps violinists, will want to read Arthur Hartmann's accounts. This well-edited book can be recommended.
MUSIC AND LETTERS, 2005 [James R. Briscoe] Show Less