Title: Wagner Revisited
Author: Milton Brener
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing LLC
ISBN: 978-1643613611
Pages: 176
Genre: Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Aaron Washington
Hollywood Book Reviews
Milton Brener wrote Wagner Revisited with the intent of making the reader fully understand the relationship German composer Richard Wagner had with Jewish people.
Richard Wagner was many things to the public. He was adored and criticized for his views in equal measure. This book notes some of the things Richard Wagner did; things which may not have been in the public domain. Wagner attracted controversies in his lifetime. The talented composer was even associated with Nazism because of the remarks he made. This book shows another side of Wagner of which many readers may not know has existed. The book is divided into four parts; each covers the life of Wagner during different times.
Brener starts the first chapter by talking about Wagner’s explanation and self-justification. I was keen on the delivery of the author in the first chapter because that would determine how I would enjoy the book. I wasn’t disappointed as I read on, as the author wrote exceptionally well. I have the impression that the author perfectly understood Wagner. Milton Brener says that he read hundreds of letters to and from Wagner, analyzing his writing style and the subjects he covered. ‘Wagner had many talents, but prose writing was not one of them’, the author observed. ‘Judaism in Music’ is one of the most famous of Wagner’s writings. I appreciated the manner in which the author broke down the essay, backing his views of the composer’s writing with facts. Reading about ‘Judaism in Music’ was my most favorite part of the first chapter.
Wagner Revisited could not be complete without the images attached at the very end of part II of the book. The author added pictures of music composers and other personalities of Jewish descent, who in his own words had different relations with Wagner. Wagner’s relationship with the women in his life was interesting. I learned that Richard Wagner had a tight relationship with his sisters compared to his brothers. Rosalie was perhaps his most favorite sister as she also played the role of a mother figure. Minna Planer was another important woman in the life of the German composer. She was his first wife who had an illegitimate daughter. He obviously adored this woman, seeing how he described her in his biography.
This book is an exciting read. I only knew of the composer’s music life and anti-Semitic commentary and racism. Milton Brener is a brilliant writer. I also note that the opinions he gave came from an informed point of view. I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading biographies. This book reads like a biography; only that it has been simplified to include a wide range of a reading audience. The other great thing about Wagner Revisited was how the author made the chapters short. He made it easy for readers because they could complete a single chapter in a few minutes. The language used is also commendable as the author did not use complex words in his writing.