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Books
Wagner and Philosophy by Bryan Magee
Ralph Blumenau devours Bryan Magee’s new book about Wagner the philosophical composer.
In 1968 Bryan Magee published an influential little book called Aspects of Wagner (now in an OUP paperback) and then, in 1983, a magisterial work, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (also now in an OUP paperback). In the superb volume under review he combines his two enthusiasms in another beautifully and lucidly written book. The front of the cover has a portrait of Wagner and the back carries one of Schopenhauer; and, indeed, the relationship between these two is the subject of the bulk of the work; but it is preceded by a discussion of the influence of Feuerbach’s philosophy on the composer; and it concludes with a fascinating chapter on Wagner’s influence on Nietzsche. This is followed by an appendix discussing whether Wagner’s anti-Semitism had any influence on his operas.
In his youth Richard Wagner (1813- 1883) was a left-wing radical and, at the age of 35, had played an active part in the Dresden uprising of 1849.
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