February House

Rating:
Summary: What a beautiful tapestry!
Review: I can only imagine the research that must have gone into writing this account of the collective lives of Auden, McCullers, Britten, and Lee -- personal diaries, letters, documents, newspapers, biographies -- and yet it reads seamlessly, as if the author had actually been an omniscient witness to the events.

You couldn't ask for better characters. (Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, after all!) Entertaining eccentricities abound, certainly, but the book goes into enough depth to fully explain motivation, even allowing us to glimpse their souls through the moral and ethical struggles each artist faced during this crucial time in history. Perhaps the highest accomplishment of the author is her ability to compassionately describe the varying mix of vulnerability and ambition in each of the artists.

February House was a place where one could open to the soul of creativity simply by walking down to the kitchen for breakfast. The run-down Brooklyn Heights walk-up served as a refuge for artists fleeing from Europe as WWII heated up. The primary residents enjoyed stimulation and encouragement beyond their wildest dreams. They were able to find new parts of themselves in this alchemical cauldron and put those discoveries into their work. Many of Auden's poems, McCullers' novels, Britten's compositions were seeded here and the fruits are still enjoyed today.

But really, this book is not about the brilliance of their works or the artistic contributions they made to society. It's all about the people -- the STORY. And that's what makes a great book.

Read it because you "should," keep it because you've fallen in love.

Rating:
Summary: A Time, A House, and Fascinating People
Review: The pre-World War II era highlighted in this book enlightens us about that trying time with which a lot of people are not presently familiar. Therefore, it is an important book to be read at this time, in addition to its main purpose which is to chronicle the interesting lives of a group of accomplished artists as they influenced each other and created lasting works of art. Perhaps the most outstanding contribution of the book is the way the author deftly describes each of the writers, composers, and poets in depth, providing the reader with a better understanding of the creative process. Also, she expresses a nostalgia that many of us feel when we walk in the steps of people from the past, and view a moment or two of their lives when prompted by memorabilia whether it be a glove, photograph, old house, or when we read such a book as this. I recommend it as an intellectual adventure and as lively entertainment (having not mentioned the fascinating tidbits).