Mahler: A Biography

Rating:
Summary: Elucidating and interesting
Review: Mahler by Jonathan Carr is a frustrating book. It certainly debunked many of the myths that have grown up around this composer, particularly those relating to his relationship with his wife. None of the other works of comparable length did as well. On the other hand his discussion of the composer's music was more of the awe-struck fan variety and would provide no new insights into what, for most people, is the most important aspect of his life. As to Carr's writing, it is light and easy reading. At the same time, it does seem occasionally to reach too far to speculate on some aspect of Mahler's life that, as a good researcher, he admits, can not be documented. Every Mahler fan will have to read this book, but none will feel that it can begin to compare with Mitchell or de la Grange. Others, looking for a light gossipy life of Mahler will enjoy a few hours with Carr.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting, gossipy slightly frustrating biograpy.
Review: Mahler by Jonathan Carr is a frustrating book. It certainly debunked many of the myths that have grown up around this composer, particularly those relating to his relationship with his wife. None of the other works of comparable length did as well. On the other hand his discussion of the composer's music was more of the awe-struck fan variety and would provide no new insights into what, for most people, is the most important aspect of his life. As to Carr's writing, it is light and easy reading. At the same time, it does seem occasionally to reach too far to speculate on some aspect of Mahler's life that, as a good researcher, he admits, can not be documented. Every Mahler fan will have to read this book, but none will feel that it can begin to compare with Mitchell or de la Grange. Others, looking for a light gossipy life of Mahler will enjoy a few hours with Carr.

Rating:
Summary: Elucidating and interesting
Review: This is a great book for those who do not have the time to plod through the de La Grange tomes on the life of Mahler. Carr shows another face of Mahler, and that while he was a giant in the late 19th century music world, he had extremely poor taste in women! Carr's writing style is interesting and engaging. The only criticism is that he gives short schrift to the Ninth Symphony, including only 1 paragraph of analysis for such an important work!!

Rating:
Summary: Kirkus circus
Review: While crawling (hardly surfing!) round the Web, I have unhappily alighted on the piece about my Mahler biography from Kirkus Reviews of 11/15/97. Well well. As Sir Thomas Beecham used to say ``You critic chaps have a remarkable talent for saying just the opposite of the true facts.'' If love of most of Mahler's music and fascination with his often dramatic life is a crime, I stand condemned on the accumulated evidence of more than three decades. But of course Mahler had faults and naturally I write about them - his moodiness, blatant careerism, at times downright viciousness as conductor to his orchestral players etc. As it happens, for many years I was biased in Alma's favour. It was only when I began to study the evidence more closely that I was forced to change my view. ``While Alma's apparent misconceptions are probably worthy of correction...''write the Kirkus people. No. It is not worth wasting one's life correcting apparent misconceptions - only real ones. Have I written a balanced account of Mahler's life and work or have I not? Let's be democratic about this and let the readers decide. Let Amazon monitor readers' reactions over a period of several months which it can determine. If the majority goes against me I will pay 1,000 dollars to a suitably worthy cause - let me suggest the fine but hardly overfunded Colorado MahlerFest. If Kirkus is outvoted, it must do the same. I will only pay if Kirkust accepts its part of the bargain. If it does not, we can all imagine why. Good reading to all Mahler fans - and foes. Jonathan Carr