Bronislava Nijinska: Early Memoirs

by Bronislava Nijinksa (Adapter), Jean Rawlinson (Translator), Irina Nijinska (Editor)

Now in paperback, Bronislava Early Memoirs —originally published in 1981—has been hailed by critics, scholars, and dancers alike as the definitive source of firsthand information on the early life of the great Vaslav Nijinsky (1889-1950). This memoir, recounted here with verve and stunning detail by the late Bronislava Nijinska (1891–1972)—Nijinsky's sister and herself a major twentieth-century dancer and leading choreographer of the Diaghilev era—offers a season-by-season chronicle of their childhood and early artistic development. Written with feeling and charm, these insightful memoirs provide an engrossingly readable narrative that has the panoramic sweep and colorful vitality of a Russian novel.

640 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 1992

Reviews

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same here
this cover is really ugly tho lol

[Bluemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book depicts the early life and development of Vaclav and Bronislava Nijinsky and contains an overwhelming quantity of detailed descriptions of early XXth century artists, scene characters' constructions, costumes, rehearsals, and performances in the top European theaters. However, I was disappointed to find out that my version of the book was edited by Romola de Pulszky ,which means that the final part of the story, after Nijinsky split with Ballets Russes and breakdown was censored, edited and cut short. But I still recommend this read especially to everyone who is following ballet scene or at least once came across "The Afternoon of a Faun".

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quality of writing here and Bronislava's personal connection as Vaslav's sister makes this easier to read among the various memoirs available on Nijinsky, but the usual issues with memoirs are at play. If you want a comprehensive, unbiased account of the dancer, stick with the more modern biographies like Vaslav Nijinsky: A Leap Into Madness or Nijinsky: A Life. This is just as colored by Bronia's love for her brother as Nijinsky was colored by Romola's love for her husband, although some of the anecdotes she tells about their childhood in Imperial Russia and the Imperial Theatrical School's inner workings are fascinating and fun. Keep in mind that this work was compiled and published posthumously, and it ends rather abruptly with Nijinsky's institutionalization around 1920. The focus is indeed on Vaslav rather than on Bronia here, as evidenced by the ending - once Nijinsky ceases to dance, the narrative stops.