The Barfoot Book of Stories from the Opera

By Shahrukh (RTL) Husain, Annabeth Albert, Husain Shahrukh

Book Overview

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ... yd send the cup round O Saki, brim and send I ove, which at first was lightsome, grows heavy at the end: For ache of what Heav'n's breeze brought from that sweet-scented brow, Those musky, tangled tresses, heart's blood is dropping now. Well soak the prayer-mat purple with wine, then, --as 'tis bid; Such solace for Love's stages from Magians is not hid: Rut this World's stage, Beloved --'tis too long When the bell Calls to unpack the camels, by Allah 'twill be well The black Night, and the fearful Wave, and whirlpool wild of Fate: --Ah, lightly-laden ones ashore what knew ye of our state? Wending mine own way, unto woe and ill-fame I was brought; How, in the loud Assemblies, could such high lore be taught? If thou wilt have The Presence, Hafiz why seek it so This world, and the Beloved--choose one, and let one go GHAZAI, II O, glory of full-mooned fairness, and lustre of lighted face Beauty lives deep in thy dimples, and, hid in thy chin-pit, grace. Then only this heart shall be quiet, bright brows and tresses in riot Then, Best-Belov'd when its longings win forth to the peace of thy place. My soul, risen up to my lip, stands eager to seek thee and fly; Backward and forward it flutters; it pants with the passion to die. What is thy pleasure? Ah, say Hafiz hard is the way Keep thy skirt from the dust Many have finished in woe. Yet would my heavy heart hear what Heart-Possessor intends; Oh. by my soul I swear--I swear by your soul's, sweet Friends No help's in this watching of ours Buy, quick as ye can, red wine; Buy from the happy drunkards for whom sleep maketh amends. In the comfort of Wine's deep slumber the swoon-bound spirit may wake, Some dew from a secret lip, some light from a love-glance take: Lips Eyes .

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1846860989
• ISBN13: 9781846860980
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Barefoot Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 0.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Recommended! Beautifully illustrated!

I purchased this book when preparing to teach a unit on the history of music at a small part-time private school. The book is a good introduction to the stories of the opera but the illustrations are what really drew me in. Such beautiful colorplates! Amazing! The artistic layout and illustrations make the book-helped the stories come alive! The writing sometimes gets a bit scattered...perhaps if an extra page or so were given to each story, a bit more detail in the right places could have provided a better understanding of the plot. Not to criticize the author, no small feat to take a complicated storyline/plot and summarize it in a suitable manner for children... The accompanying CD was a bit disappointing-I was expecting to hear selections from each opera but instead it is a recording of the written book with about a 10 second bit of instrumental (no vocals) music at the end of each story. Would have been great if the recording were interspersed with corresponding selections of the actual opera soundtrack. HOWEVER-I would highly recommend this book because the illustrations are enough to inspired interest in the opera and children will greatly enjoy the stories-read aloud, or as a recorded book with accompanying CD.

A Good Introduction for Children to Opera

This was a Christmas present to a friend who is an opera buff and has a young daughter.

Appreciate This Musical Genre

Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera Retold By Shahrukh Husain, Illustrated by James Mayhew is just the book for parents and kids alike, as you will learn the stories of seven of the world's favorite operas. Because operas are usually sung in foreign languages many people don't feel they are sophistocated enough to understand and so deprive themselves of this beautiful music genre. How wonderful if we had each learned to appreciate opera as children. This is the book to do it. Included are two CD's in which the stories in the book are read, so children can listen without adult participation. However, I felt this is the only thing lacking in the collection: I would have preferred to have the CD play the opera music while the child or adult reads the book. Of course, the opera music and videos are available in most libraries. The end notes of the book tell about famous opera houses of the world and about each of the composers of the seven operas in the book. This is a valuable book for any age.