Why am I passionate about this?

P. I. Tchaikovsky is a world-famous composer but few people know anything about him. Much of his life was hidden by the Soviet Union due to his homosexuality. As information finally came to light, the mystery of his death in 1893 became an obsession for me. The truth of it lies beyond the rumors of suicide or cholera, as particular circumstances exposed in my novel clearly show. I am a ballet historian and the writing of Fate was an eight-year endeavor. Readers of Fate can now be the proverbial fly on the wall while Tchaikovsky lives his life and creates his major works.


I wrote

Fate

By Adin Dalton,

Book cover of Fate

What is my book about?

A 19th-century tale of love and music that brings the fascinating life of P.I. Tchaikovsky to light in a way…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Nijinsky: A Life of Genius and Madness

Adin Dalton Why did I love this book?

I adore this book because it simply plunges the reader into Nijinsky's strange and wonderful world. As the greatest dancer-actor of his time, the pressure placed on him was tremendous and had a great effect on his delicate yet wildly creative mind. After reading this book, you will come away with a unique understanding of the world of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes at the turn of the last century.

By Richard Buckle,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nijinsky as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Vaslav Nijinsky was unique as a dancer, interpretive artist, and choreographic pioneer. His breathtaking performances with the Ballet Russe from 1909 to 1913 took Western Europe by storm. His avant-garde choreography for The Afternoon of the Faune and The Rite of Spring provoked riots when performed and are now regarded as the foundation of modern dance.

Through his liaison with the great impresario Diaghilev, he worked with the artistic elite of the time. During the fabulous Diaghilev years he lived in an atmosphere of perpetual hysteria, glamor, and intrigue. Then, in 1913, he married a Hungarian aristocrat, Romola de Pulszky,…


Book cover of Dancing for Degas

Adin Dalton Why did I love this book?

If you've ever found yourself captivated by those colorful, romantic paintings of ballerinas by impressionist Edgar Degas, treat yourself to this fascinating novel. Ms. Wagner brings a particular dancer to life, along with her family, in this fictional account. The world of the Paris Opera in the nineteenth century is yours for the taking in this easy-to-read and very imaginative story. It had special meaning for me because I love that world and had never been immersed in it before. 

By Kathryn Wagner,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dancing for Degas as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the City of Lights, at the dawn of a new age, begins an unforgettable story of great love, great art—and the most painful choices of the heart.
 
With this fresh and vibrantly imagined portrait of the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas, readers are transported through the eyes of a young Parisian ballerina to an era of light and movement. An ambitious and enterprising farm girl, Alexandrie joins the prestigious Paris Opera ballet with hopes of securing not only her place in society but her family’s financial future. Her plan is soon derailed, however, when she falls in love with the…


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Book cover of The Oracle of Spring Garden Road

The Oracle of Spring Garden Road By Norrin M. Ripsman,

The Oracle of Spring Garden Road explores the life and singular worldview of “Crazy Eddie,” a brilliant, highly-educated homeless man who panhandles in front of a downtown bank in a coastal town.

Eddie is a local enigma. Who is he? Where did he come from? What brought him to a…

Book cover of A Dance Autobiography

Adin Dalton Why did I love this book?

For an intriguing, first-hand account of the art and life of the greatest ballerina of our time, don't miss this grand read. Natalia Makarova, the prima ballerina of them all gives this thrilling autobiography life as she describes not only her roles at the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg and at American Ballet Theatre in New York City, but also her daring escape from KGB agents in London where she defected. Glorious photography crowns this amazing achievement. On a personal note, my life changed after seeing her dance—first in a video of Giselle and then later in person at the Metropolitan Opera House. 

Book cover of Anna Pavlova: Twentieth Century Ballerina

Adin Dalton Why did I love this book?

As a celebrity in her own time, Pavlova was groundbreaking. I enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the life of an extraordinary pioneer. She lived at a time when changes in the world were many, as the film of her performing the Dying Swan certainly proves. She toured the world in order to share her art with others and has name recognition that has lasted to this very day. If you're curious about her incredible life, don't miss this lovely book.   

By Jane Pritchard, Caroline Hamilton,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Anna Pavlova as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Anna Pavlova is a legendary ballerina. Originally from the Imperial Russian Ballet, she performed to great acclaim in Europe for various impresarios at the beginning of the 20th century including Sergei Diaghalev creator of the famous Ballets Russes. Anna Pavlova formed her own dance company in 1912 and based herself in London at Ivy House, Hampstead This book celebrates the centenary of Anna Pavlova's residency at Ivy House, Hampstead, which became her home base from 1912 until her death in 1931. The book presents a lively outline of her career.


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Book cover of Love, Sex, and Other Calamities: 15 Stories and a Poem by Ralph Hickok

Love, Sex, and Other Calamities By Ralph Hickok,

From Kirkus Reviews: "This debut short-story collection paints the wistful life of a newspaper journalist as seen through his sexual and romantic encounters...

Throughout, Hickok writes in an assured style, pulling readers along. The narrow sexual focus results in a distorted picture, yet other aspects of Art's life emerge at…

Book cover of Dancing on My Grave

Adin Dalton Why did I love this book?

I found that this sometimes funny but always emotional and moving account of Ms. Kirkland's life as a ballerina in New York City to be a real triumph. She brings to the pages an honesty that is rarely seen, even in autobiographies. From the illegal drug scene that nearly killed her to the everyday trials of an immensely talented dancer caught between two worlds, this is the stuff that nightmares are made of.

By Gelsey Kirkland,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dancing on My Grave as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An American ballerina presents a story of the high-pressure world of dance which brought the dancer to a nightmare world of illness, drug addicition, and suicidal despair


Explore my book 😀

Fate

By Adin Dalton,

Book cover of Fate

What is my book about?

A 19th-century tale of love and music that brings the fascinating life of P.I. Tchaikovsky to light in a way never seen before... Based on letters written by the composer to friends and colleagues, historical documents, and recently uncovered facts, this epic novel finally brings to light the intimate personal story kept closely guarded by the man behind the music.

Deftly written, it follows the composer from the time of his youthful creation of the ballet Swan Lake up to his mysterious and controversial death. It brings forward the beautiful and at times tragic events that marked his life and the lovers who inspired his greatest creativity. Did society forgive him, or did fate have the last word? A fascinating read with a stunning ending.

Book cover of Nijinsky: A Life of Genius and Madness
Book cover of Dancing for Degas
Book cover of A Dance Autobiography

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Interested in classical music, ballet, and the Soviet Union?

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Ballet 19 books
The Soviet Union 380 books