{
    "id": 456025,
    "slug": "puccini-without-excuses-william-berger",
    "nstc": null,
    "title": "Puccini Without Excuses",
    "subtitle": null,
    "collection_title": null,
    "collection_part_number": null,
    "annotation": null,
    "description": "<p>Puccini is the most beloved composer of opera in the world: one quarter of all opera performances in the U.S. are of his operas, his music pervades movie soundtracks, and his plots have infiltrated our popular culture. But, although Puccini&rsquo;s art still captivates audiences and the popularity of such works as Tosca, La Boh&eacute;me, and Madama Butterfly has never waned, he has long been a victim of critical snobbery and cultural marginalization. In this witty and informative guide for beginners and fans alike, William Berger sets the record straight, reclaiming Puccini as a serious artist. Combining his trademark irreverent humor with passionate enthusiasm, Berger strikes just the right balance of introductory information and thought-provoking analysis. He includes a biography, discussions of each opera, a glossary, fun facts and anecdotes, and above all keen insight into Puccini&rsquo;s enduring power. For anyone who loves Puccini and for anyone who just wonders what all the fuss is about, Puccini Without Excuses is funny, challenging, and always a pleasure to read. INCLUDES: &bull; Why Puccini&rsquo;s art and its message of hope is crucial to our world today &bull; How Anglo audiences often miss the mythic significance of his operas &bull; The use of his music as shorthand in films, from A Room with a View to Fatal Attraction &bull; A scene-by scene analysis of each opera &bull; A guide to the wealth of available recordings, books, and videos</p>",
    "imprint": null,
    "language_code": "eng",
    "original_language_code": null,
    "page_count": 471,
    "duration_seconds": null,
    "publication_date_first": "2005-01-01",
    "publication_date_latest": "2023-02-27",
    "cover_url": null,
    "editions": [],
    "ratings_count": 0,
    "read_count": 0,
    "review_count": 0,
    "favorite_count": 0,
    "reading_status_read_count": 0,
    "reading_status_reading_count": 0,
    "reading_status_want_to_read_count": 0,
    "rating_average": null,
    "ratings_distribution": {
        "1": 0,
        "2": 0,
        "3": 0,
        "4": 0,
        "5": 0
    },
    "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:54:27+00:00",
    "updated_at": "2025-10-29T00:38:03+00:00",
    "publisher": {
        "id": 4194,
        "slug": "vintage-us",
        "name": "Vintage US",
        "created_at": "2025-09-19T13:08:55+00:00",
        "updated_at": "2025-09-19T15:10:02+00:00"
    },
    "contributors": [
        {
            "id": 281052,
            "slug": "elizabeth-everett",
            "key_names": "",
            "names_before_key": null,
            "prefix_to_key": null,
            "contributor_role": "A01",
            "readable_contributor_role": "Author"
        }
    ],
    "genres": [],
    "subjects": []
}