Flight of the SwanFlight of the Swan
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Book, 2001
Current format, Book, 2001, 1st ed, No Longer Available.Book, 2001
Current format, Book, 2001, 1st ed, No Longer Available. Offered in 0 more formatsFlight of the Swan is the tale of a world-famous Russian prima ballerina touring in Puerto Rico in 1917. Because of extraordinary political upheaval at home, her troupe is forced to remain in the Caribbean for an eventful three months. During that time, Madame falls desperately in love with Diamantino, a young local revolutionary, and their passionate affair threatens the stability - indeed, the very survival - of the small, intense, and highly competitive world of the corps de ballet.
Narrated by Madame's devotee Masha, Flight of the Swan explores the complexities of love and betrayal, of personal sacrifice for the sake of public art. Gradually Masha comes to recognize that in spite of what she sees as Madame's propensity toward pretense and vanity, the prima ballerina's true love is dance, and she is prepared to forsake almost everything for it. But Madame's tenacious commitment to this noble ideal demands nothing less from her acolytes, eventually forcing Masha to question what choices she herself is willing to make when it comes to her own loyalties and loves, while raising the question of where true happiness lies.
The story of a prima ballerina and her acolyte, set in Puerto Rico in 1917.
Flight of the Swan is the compelling story of a world-famous Russian prima ballerina who finds herself stranded on a Caribbean island in 1917, due to political upheavals in her own country. This charming jeu d'esprit explores the complexities of love and betrayal, as the loyal servant Masha gradually comes to recognize that in spite of what she sees as Madame's propensity to be both pretentious and vain, the ballerina is prepared to sacrifice everything for her art. Madame's unfaltering commitment to dance above all else -- and her demand of nothing less from her disciples -- forces Masha to question what choices she herself is willing to make when it comes to her own loves, ideals, and relationships.
Humorous, engaging, and coyly revealing, Flight of the Swan traces the decisions made by Masha, Madame, and other members of the troupe during their enforced three-month stay in Puerto Rico, and in doing so raises the question of where true happiness lies.
During Russia's political upheaval of 1917, Madame and her ballet troupe must remain in Puerto Rico, during which time Misha watches as Madame falls in love with a local revolutionary, forcing her to choose between her love for a man and for her dance.
Narrated by Madame's devotee Masha, Flight of the Swan explores the complexities of love and betrayal, of personal sacrifice for the sake of public art. Gradually Masha comes to recognize that in spite of what she sees as Madame's propensity toward pretense and vanity, the prima ballerina's true love is dance, and she is prepared to forsake almost everything for it. But Madame's tenacious commitment to this noble ideal demands nothing less from her acolytes, eventually forcing Masha to question what choices she herself is willing to make when it comes to her own loyalties and loves, while raising the question of where true happiness lies.
The story of a prima ballerina and her acolyte, set in Puerto Rico in 1917.
Flight of the Swan is the compelling story of a world-famous Russian prima ballerina who finds herself stranded on a Caribbean island in 1917, due to political upheavals in her own country. This charming jeu d'esprit explores the complexities of love and betrayal, as the loyal servant Masha gradually comes to recognize that in spite of what she sees as Madame's propensity to be both pretentious and vain, the ballerina is prepared to sacrifice everything for her art. Madame's unfaltering commitment to dance above all else -- and her demand of nothing less from her disciples -- forces Masha to question what choices she herself is willing to make when it comes to her own loves, ideals, and relationships.
Humorous, engaging, and coyly revealing, Flight of the Swan traces the decisions made by Masha, Madame, and other members of the troupe during their enforced three-month stay in Puerto Rico, and in doing so raises the question of where true happiness lies.
During Russia's political upheaval of 1917, Madame and her ballet troupe must remain in Puerto Rico, during which time Misha watches as Madame falls in love with a local revolutionary, forcing her to choose between her love for a man and for her dance.
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- New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001.
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