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Astonish Me!: First Nights That Changed the World
A SUNDAY TIMES BEST FILM AND THEATRE BOOK OF 2022
Astonish Me! is an adrenaline-charged rollercoaster through history's seismic first nights, exploring how individual artists can change and shape the story of culture - and allow us to see ourselves in new ways.
It tells of times when 'the air between people seems to alter' as art achieves profound change, across the globe and across history.
Dominic Dromgoole has created a radical and fresh canon. He begins in New York in 1963, as Lorraine Hansberry remakes American theatre and a nation's perception of race. And then, as the lights go up, we find ourselves in Renaissance Florence, watching Michelangelo's David being hauled into the Piazza della Signoria. The dust settles and we are transported to the birth of theatre in fifth-century Athens - and then to Paris to meet with Diaghilev and Stravinsky for the Rite of Spring. We witness kabuki's creation, as a radical women's performance, in Kyoto; the Sex Pistols shattering Thatcherite Britain at Manchester's Free Trade Hall; and watch as Hitchcock directs Psycho.
Astonish Me! is an adrenaline-charged rollercoaster through history's seismic first nights, exploring how individual artists can change and shape the story of culture - and allow us to see ourselves in new ways.
It tells of times when 'the air between people seems to alter' as art achieves profound change, across the globe and across history.
Dominic Dromgoole has created a radical and fresh canon. He begins in New York in 1963, as Lorraine Hansberry remakes American theatre and a nation's perception of race. And then, as the lights go up, we find ourselves in Renaissance Florence, watching Michelangelo's David being hauled into the Piazza della Signoria. The dust settles and we are transported to the birth of theatre in fifth-century Athens - and then to Paris to meet with Diaghilev and Stravinsky for the Rite of Spring. We witness kabuki's creation, as a radical women's performance, in Kyoto; the Sex Pistols shattering Thatcherite Britain at Manchester's Free Trade Hall; and watch as Hitchcock directs Psycho.
- GenresNonfictionHistoryMusic
384 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
6 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 24, 2023
Astonish Me! details the "first nights" that were of great importance to art and cultural history spanning across centuries of time.
Presented in bite-sized chapters, Dromgoole writes with a flowing prose highlighting original ideas that makes this the perfect book to dip in and out of.
Witty and thoroughly detailed, the author is truly very respectful to all the varieties of art discussed along with its creators and emphasises the importance of art in society.
As a lover of art and art history myself, I enjoyed this unique insight that Dromgoole provided with a "behind the scenes" perspective to appreciate artistic events even centuries after it happened. As in the title, it was indeed, astonishing.
Thank you to @profile.books for so kindly offering this book to be reviewed!
Presented in bite-sized chapters, Dromgoole writes with a flowing prose highlighting original ideas that makes this the perfect book to dip in and out of.
Witty and thoroughly detailed, the author is truly very respectful to all the varieties of art discussed along with its creators and emphasises the importance of art in society.
As a lover of art and art history myself, I enjoyed this unique insight that Dromgoole provided with a "behind the scenes" perspective to appreciate artistic events even centuries after it happened. As in the title, it was indeed, astonishing.
Thank you to @profile.books for so kindly offering this book to be reviewed!
April 19, 2026
The concept of this book is truly interesting, but some chapters feel as though they sort of lose it. Many end up detailing the artists whole life in a way where the "first night" serves only as an excuse of a frame. Others on the other hand are truly tales of "first nights" first and of the artist lives second.
It seems as though Dromgoole chose which artists he wanted to write about and what the concept was separately and the tried to mush them together. However, this is not to say the book was incomprehensible, though it lost me once or twice, just that perhaps the advertised idea/gimmick should perhaps have been refined.
Additionally, I noticed many of the more well known and perhaps interesting people were towards the end of the book, which seems like a way of motivating people to read it the whole way through. Of course, this is not necessarily bad just an observation.
I also noticed the amount of theatre related people, which is not surprising considering what we learn of Dromgoole throughout the book, but it is slightly disappointing as someone who was more interested in learning about people like Michelangelo Hitchcock. Of course the others were interesting too and as a big fan of Oscar Wilde's works for example I understand the importance of theatre as a form of art. (Also plays and their makers have a much more clear "first night" than a singer for example.
Even with its few small faults this was truly an interesting book, which I suggest anyone interested in art (especially making it themselves) read. It taught me about many artists who I'd never heard of and whose works I have no gotten interested enough in that I might seek them out further.
It seems as though Dromgoole chose which artists he wanted to write about and what the concept was separately and the tried to mush them together. However, this is not to say the book was incomprehensible, though it lost me once or twice, just that perhaps the advertised idea/gimmick should perhaps have been refined.
Additionally, I noticed many of the more well known and perhaps interesting people were towards the end of the book, which seems like a way of motivating people to read it the whole way through. Of course, this is not necessarily bad just an observation.
I also noticed the amount of theatre related people, which is not surprising considering what we learn of Dromgoole throughout the book, but it is slightly disappointing as someone who was more interested in learning about people like Michelangelo Hitchcock. Of course the others were interesting too and as a big fan of Oscar Wilde's works for example I understand the importance of theatre as a form of art. (Also plays and their makers have a much more clear "first night" than a singer for example.
Even with its few small faults this was truly an interesting book, which I suggest anyone interested in art (especially making it themselves) read. It taught me about many artists who I'd never heard of and whose works I have no gotten interested enough in that I might seek them out further.
March 18, 2023
Dominic Dromgoole can write with such infectious enthusiasm and verve that one finishes reading him ready to rush off and pick up references; vibes and whole new worlds in a moment. His book about modern playwrights, The Full Room had that awestruck but critically alive and aware quality. Astonish Me is another wonderful book describing and anatomising a variety of firsts in the arts -first night performances; key zeitgeist moments and outstanding artists reaching their peak or going it alone in breakthrough revelatory artistic moments. My favourites is this excellently varied volume covering most art forms included the first piece on Lorraine Hansbury and the origins of her play, A Raisin in the Sun; a great piece on Ravi Shankar; Young British Artists and the Sensation exhibition and a lovely piece on Sarah Kane and Blasted. His latter piece on the Globe Shakespeare festival is very moving on the power of Shakespeare within that space. Each chapter has an iconic or atmospheric photograph to help set it up ( all referenced at the end) and I liked his Informal bibliography which had some great sources to reach for.
Overall, a wonderful book- real quality elegiac writing and a handy reference to inspired and inspirational works of true art. Highly Recommended.
Overall, a wonderful book- real quality elegiac writing and a handy reference to inspired and inspirational works of true art. Highly Recommended.
March 19, 2023
Dominic Dromgoole's book on Shakespeare 'Will and Me' is a work of real passion, funny, insightful, honest and authentic. All of which qualities Dromgoole then brought to the Globe during his tenure as Artistic Director. Unfortunately I feel quite a lot of those listed qualities are lacking from his new book, a selected survey of notable 'first nights'. If feels to me as if, once the original idea occurred to him, Dromgoole has gone searching for examples which are outside of those he would instinctively turn to in order to generate eclecticism. That instantly consigns a lot of this book to a rather turgid stodge of worthiness, devoid of fresh perspectives. So for example Dromgoole has nothing new to say about the origins of Greek acting, his account of the first night of 'The Rite of Spring' is not as interesting (or accurate) as some recent writing, the origins of Monterverdi's 'Orfeo' are already well covered by very accessible writing by early music scholars. Even on 'home' territory such as the first night of 'A Raisin in the Sun' Dromgoole resorts to a sort of dutiful completism which lacks fluency and spark. Disappointing.
December 28, 2024
i fortunately never studied any Liberal arts courses when at uni. Unfortunately, i've just read a book by one of the worst kinds of liberal arts professors.
the majority of the subject matter here is something that did, as the title suggests, 'changed the world' starting strong with the statue of David and ending with Beyonce at Cochella. what goes on in between is some protentious twat picking his favourite bits of art or poetry or theatre and waffling on for 20 pages per events and most of the time, waffling on about stuff not even relevant to the actual event. he writes as if you are intimately aware with the subject matter or as if he is the master of the subject and the reader, his lowly and impressionable students.
i enjoyed the style of his writing, despite the above, with a dramatisation to events bringing and liveliness to the stories he tells. and most of the stories are compelling enough to make their own book. but i just couldn't stand reading someones opinions in what is framed as a research book.
the majority of the subject matter here is something that did, as the title suggests, 'changed the world' starting strong with the statue of David and ending with Beyonce at Cochella. what goes on in between is some protentious twat picking his favourite bits of art or poetry or theatre and waffling on for 20 pages per events and most of the time, waffling on about stuff not even relevant to the actual event. he writes as if you are intimately aware with the subject matter or as if he is the master of the subject and the reader, his lowly and impressionable students.
i enjoyed the style of his writing, despite the above, with a dramatisation to events bringing and liveliness to the stories he tells. and most of the stories are compelling enough to make their own book. but i just couldn't stand reading someones opinions in what is framed as a research book.
March 8, 2023
A meticulously researched and eminently readable account of some of the great artistic and cultural events of the past 3000 years. Dominic Dromgoole’s enthusiasm for his subjects shines through with pithy anecdotes interspersed among the main thrusts of the histories. A brilliant read from Thespis through to Beyoncé via Stravinsky and the Sex Pistols. The work of a cultural polymath.
January 17, 2025
An awful lot of information that's given to you in quite a short space of time that's presented in rather a random order. As you come to the end of each entry you find yourself wanting to know more, which I imagine is the whole point. If you're NOT looking to add more to your TBR I wouldn't recommend this!
April 10, 2025
Well written and entertaining look at how a great work of art emerges. Stand-out chapters for me are about four of my favourite works of art: Michelangelo's David; Handel's Messiah; Hitchcock's Psycho; Wilde's Earnest.
October 20, 2023
Entertaining and interesting, but drags at times.
March 17, 2024
Interestingly stories, many of which I had not heard before. However, the author’s writing quality is not always the best.
March 25, 2026
A much underrated book about the stories behind first nights from all ages, since the statue of David to plays, Beyoncé or the Fire Bird ballet. Discovering new truths about Oscar Wilde and the wonderful Globe international theatre troup, it will leave you in awe. A true eye opener about taking risks in art that is so fun to read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews