'David Vernon's book helps everyone, no matter how previously informed, to find their own way into Sibelius's extraordinary world.' - Sakari Oramo, chief conductor, BBC Symphony Orchestra'Sibelius's music is as synthetic as a skyscraper but as natural and spontaneous as a dividing cell'Developing a style and logic all his own, outside the trends of modernism, Jean Sibelius wrote some of most captivating and resonant orchestral works of the twentieth century...

'[An] extraordinary and exciting book' - John SimpsonBeethoven's string quartets have long been held up as the pinnacle of chamber music: their fertility, complexity, depth and range mark them out as amongst the greatest of all musical creations. Yet they are also elusive, slippery works of art.In his new book, David Vernon - author of Disturbing the Universe: Wagner's Musikdrama and Beauty and Sadness: Mahler's 11 Symphonies - explores th...

'A beautiful and important book' - Marina MahlerGustav Mahler wrote some of the most challenging and cherished music of all time: eleven extraordinary symphonies that continue to fascinate, intrigue and infuriate music lovers around the world.In his dazzling new book, David Vernon celebrates these vast but often very private works of art. In stimulating prose, he investigates their theatricality and grandeur, as well as their poetry and intimacy, examining ...

'Wagner's art refuses to stand still, declines to play by the rules and will not observe any of the social graces'What is it that makes Wagner's art so endlessly powerful? So influential, seductive and repellent? So simultaneously creative and destructive? And why does it continue to shock, thrill and disturb all those who encounter it?In Disturbing the Universe, David Vernon probes - in his incisive, provocative style - each of Wagner's mature wor...

Trent was shorter than she had envisaged but he was fit looking with sun-bleached hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He was in bare feet and wearing a short white robe. He made some small talk – did she have any trouble finding the place, was she having a good day? That sort of thing. Then it was down to business.— From "M'deira M'dear?" by Stephen KnoxBold as day, she strips off in front of me. Her nipples are overly large and dark against her pale skin. From the corner of my...

'Nabokov's novels are playgrounds of perfection and dungeons of despair'Exile, émigré and refugee, Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977) was buffeted by the tides of his times, from the Russian Revolution to the rise of Hitler. But he converted that personal anarchy into a seductive, often controversial, art which searches for meaning amid cruelty and loss.In Ada to Zembla: The Novels of Vladimir Nabokov, David Vernon explores the works of one of the twentieth century's key...

Forty-one engaging and clever short stories feature in this latest anthology from Stringybark Stories. Selected from over 290 entries these winning and highly commended tales are wickedly intriguing, thought-provoking, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, but always a rollicking read.Marco meandered through the checkered picnic blankets in the park, trying not to step on their owners. Plates of potato salad and coleslaw threatened to trip him up. The tasty smell of sausages tickled his ...

Inside the house, George flexed his shoulders and prepared for battle. He looked around the study and nodded with satisfaction. The rug was rolled back against the wall, the chairs had been removed to the kitchen and the desk, on the top of which he had carefully lined up his armoury, sat in the corner. The arena was ready.— From "Do It Yourself Shakespeare" by Jim Baker"You're so beautiful," he says. Some days she suspects it may be so, but beauty is difficult to verify. Ev...

"Dad, what would happen to me if you died?"Quinn continues the steady motion of the stone against the axe head, round and round and round. His little girl is mesmerised, watching the easy circular motion of his brown and weathered hand, listening to the raspy sound. He stops, spits on the stone and applies it to the axe head once again. The edge is shiny silver and he flicks it like a guitar string with his thumb, testing. "I'm not goin' to die, kiddo."— From "Down the Green...

What does it mean to be seen, heard, loved, forgiven—or simply understood? In Thanks for Asking, forty award-winning stories from the Stringybark Short Story Awards explore the small moments and life-changing choices that shape who we are. Across country towns, city streets, family kitchens, train carriages, beaches and backroads, these stories introduce characters experiencing longing, loss, humour, resilience, mystery and hope. Some tales are tender, some unsettling, so...

This book explains how Christians, or persons making inquiry into redemptive Christianity, can make a very powerful and unfailing connection to Jesus Christ, the son of God, according to Romans 12:1-2: unconditional surrender to God, learning to achieve scriptural and spiritual warfare for healing against great pain of PTSD, and freedom from all addictions that hold our lives in misery. I have thirty-two years' experience in learning and implementing this process. Dwell upon these scriptur...

Arms, legs and breasts were thrust through the bars and the desperation caused Mr. Fox to stumble back, muttering, "Good God!" before being accosted on the other side and pinned by dirty arms to the bars and his waistcoat pocket was explored by boney fingers. Fortunately Mr. Fox had displayed some forethought and left his pocket watch at home, but he still seemed genuinely surprised by the molestation."Geeeeeet back!" one of the sailors yelled and swung a bat at the limbs, which rec...