'Her [Bullivant's] book will serve as a key reference on the composer, and its perspectives deserve full consideration by anyone studying twentieth-century music and communism ... drawing on newly available archival material, it carefully considers key 'images' of Bush - as modernist, as left-wing political activist, national outsider, 'Stalinist'. The result is a nuanced assessment of Bush's ideas and position ... Read morewithin both British and East German musical life.' Mike Makin-Waite, Twentieth Century Communism 'Joanna Bullivant's newly published book, the first full-length study of Bush's life and music, is long overdue and wholly to be welcomed ... anyone interested in Alan Bush's music should get their local library to stock it.' Andy Croft, The Morning Star 'Joanna Bullivant has given us a good deal to think about with this excellent book, in regard to the tensions between modernist aesthetics and radical politics.' Pete Dale, Transposition: Musique et Sciences Sociales 'Alan Bush's reputation as a serious composer remains and, as the Cold War fades into memory, those dichotomous views of Bush which have so long prevailed are also becoming more blurred. This book makes a substantial contribution to this process, and offers new perspectives on a phenomenon which still fascinates us today ...' Toby Thacker, Twentieth-Century Music 'Her [Bullivant's] book will serve as a key reference on the composer, and its perspectives deserve full consideration by anyone studying twentieth-century music and communism ... drawing on newly available archival material, it carefully considers key `images' of Bush - as modernist, as left-wing political activist, national outsider, `Stalinist'. The result is a nuanced assessment of Bush's ideas and position within both British and East German musical life.' Mike Makin-Waite, Twentieth Century Communism 'Joanna Bullivant's newly published book, the first full-length study of Bush's life and music, is long overdue and wholly to be welcomed ... anyone interested in Alan Bush's music should get their local library to stock it.' Andy Croft, The Morning Star 'Joanna Bullivant has given us a good deal to think about with this excellent book, in regard to the tensions between modernist aesthetics and radical politics.' Pete Dale, Transposition: Musique et Sciences Sociales 'Alan Bush's reputation as a serious composer remains and, as the Cold War fades into memory, those dichotomous views of Bush which have so long prevailed are also becoming more blurred. This book makes a substantial contribution to this process, and offers new perspectives on a phenomenon which still fascinates us today ...' Toby Thacker, Twentieth-Century Music Show Less