Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet

Jennifer Homans' magnificent study of the birth and death (or not) of an art form

by Judith FlandersSunday, 21 November 2010

'Apollo's Angels' by Jennifer Homans: 'A book that every dance lover should read'

It is rare that you read a book, and mentally shout “Yes! Yes!” as you tick off all the things you agree with, but had never actually verbalised. It is even rarer to read a book where, in a subject you know pretty well, on almost every page you learn at least one fascinating new thing. But Jennifer Homans’ Apollo’s Angels is that book.

The chapter on Imperial Russia and the great classical ballets – Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty – is magisterial, but despite its almost epic breadth, still wonderfully detailed

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