Tristan`s Shadow – Sexuality and the Total Work of Art after Wagner

Explore the intricate connections between art and sexuality in "Tristan's Shadow – Sexuality and the Total Work of Art after Wagner," authored by the acclaimed scholar Julia A. Smith. Published by The University of Chicago Press in 2013, this hardback edition spans 240 thought-provoking pages.

Smith masterfully analyzes the impact of Richard Wagner’s concept of Gesamtkunstwerk and its erotic undertones. She delves into how these themes resonate through Wagner's iconic opera "Tristan und Isolde" and influence the subsequent generation of composers, such as Zemlinsky and Strauss. Drawing on psychoanalysis, evolutionary biology, and various academic disciplines, this book offers a fresh perspective on the interplay between sexuality and musical artistry.

This engaging read is essential for anyone interested in understanding the profound cultural currents that shaped modern compositions and their reflections on human desire.