作者簡介

薩義德，1935年生於巴勒斯坦的耶路撒冷，接受過英式教育，取得哈佛大學博士學位，哥倫比亞大學英文係與比較文學係教授，擔任The Nation雜誌樂評，著作等身，包括《鄉關何處》（又譯《格格不入》）、《文化與帝國主義》、《東方主義》。他由哥倫比亞大學齣版社齣版的著作包括《康拉德與自傳小說》、《人文主義與民主的批評》、《開始：意圖與方法》、《音樂的闡釋》及《並行與吊詭》。2003年逝於紐約。

譯者簡介

彭淮棟，1953年生。譯有《後殖民理論》（Bart Moore-Gilbert）、《意義》（博藍尼）、《俄國思想傢》（以撒•柏林）、《自由主義之後》（華勒斯坦）、《西方政治思想史》（麥剋裏蘭）、《鄉關何處》（薩義德）、《現實意義》（以撒•柏林）、《貝多芬：阿多諾的音樂哲學》（阿多諾）、《美的曆史》和《醜的曆史》（艾可）等書。

From Publishers Weekly

Though best known for his political writings (Orientalism), Said was also, from 1986 until his death in 2003, the music critic for the Nation, and this collection draws together reviews from that publication and other magazines. Said had very firm opinions and lashed out against New York City's classical music scene in the 1980s and early '90s for producing safe but grimly uninteresting performances and repertories. Instead of simply blaming the intellectual cowardice of most contemporary musicians, however, he was able to provide detailed technical critiques of a conductor's handling of a Beethoven symphony or a singer's inadequacies in a Wagnerian role. Glenn Gould's intellectualized style of playing was a source of fascination to the critic, and new biographies or films about the pianist would inevitably draw his attention. Said also writes about his friendship with Daniel Barenboim (who contributes an introduction), which leads to one of the few discussions of Middle Eastern politics; a review of the controversial opera The Death of Klinghoffer sparks another. For the most part, however, his attention is strictly on the music, and he proves himself to have been astute and passionately engaged. (Nov.)

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