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Elgar: The Erotic Variations / Delius: A Moment with Venus
This "novel biography" focuses a literary rather than camera lens on the private lives of Elgar and Delius —with no holds barred!
In these new novel-biograhies Ken Russell reinvents the quintessentially English Edward Elgar (1857-1934) and Frederick Delius (1862-1934) for the printed page. Here the two musicians' —both provincial lads —come alive in a new way in biographical novels that are revealing yet boisterously entertaining —occasionally outrageous and iconoclastic. In The Erotic Variation , Russell explodes his own myth of offering the last word on his subject. Here the man emerges from Victorian morality complete with mistresses and muses in the form of the women who captivated his soul, including his childhood sweetheart Helen Weaver and the emancipated headmistress Rosa Burley. A Moment with Venus is largely based on the recollections of the composer's amanuensis, Eric Fenby, who became a friend of the author during the making of the Monitor drama-documentary. Some of the extra-marital material in this novel was unknown to Russell when he made his film, but the baptism of Frederick Delius the Yorkshireman —as "Fritz" —is the hilarious starting point for the revelations about the secret life of this cantankerous old pagan genius.
In these new novel-biograhies Ken Russell reinvents the quintessentially English Edward Elgar (1857-1934) and Frederick Delius (1862-1934) for the printed page. Here the two musicians' —both provincial lads —come alive in a new way in biographical novels that are revealing yet boisterously entertaining —occasionally outrageous and iconoclastic. In The Erotic Variation , Russell explodes his own myth of offering the last word on his subject. Here the man emerges from Victorian morality complete with mistresses and muses in the form of the women who captivated his soul, including his childhood sweetheart Helen Weaver and the emancipated headmistress Rosa Burley. A Moment with Venus is largely based on the recollections of the composer's amanuensis, Eric Fenby, who became a friend of the author during the making of the Monitor drama-documentary. Some of the extra-marital material in this novel was unknown to Russell when he made his film, but the baptism of Frederick Delius the Yorkshireman —as "Fritz" —is the hilarious starting point for the revelations about the secret life of this cantankerous old pagan genius.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
7 people want to read
About the author
Ken Russell
90 books14 followersThe filmmaker, not the author of IQ Tests.
Ken Russell tried several professions, before choosing to become a film director.He was a still photographer a dancer and even served in the army, but it was film that was to be Mr. Russell's destiny. He began by making several short films, and those paved the way for his brilliant television films of the sixties that are acclaimed for his attention to detail and opulent visuals. His third feature film Women in Love (1969) was a triumph and he became an internationally known filmmaker. In the 1970s his talent truly blossomed, over the next 2 decades he would direct a succession of remarkable films most of them contained his trademark flamboyance that critics generally dismiss but many seem to find this engrossing.He will forever be remembered as a controversial and visionary artist with something of a third eye when it comes to making oddball dramas that have captivating images and themes.
Ken Russell tried several professions, before choosing to become a film director.He was a still photographer a dancer and even served in the army, but it was film that was to be Mr. Russell's destiny. He began by making several short films, and those paved the way for his brilliant television films of the sixties that are acclaimed for his attention to detail and opulent visuals. His third feature film Women in Love (1969) was a triumph and he became an internationally known filmmaker. In the 1970s his talent truly blossomed, over the next 2 decades he would direct a succession of remarkable films most of them contained his trademark flamboyance that critics generally dismiss but many seem to find this engrossing.He will forever be remembered as a controversial and visionary artist with something of a third eye when it comes to making oddball dramas that have captivating images and themes.
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