Paris Letters

A rich compilation of the previously uncollected Russian and English prose and interviews of one of the twentieth century's greatest writers, edited by Nabokov experts Brian Boyd and Anastasia Tolstoy

These days love letters can be in short supply. With the advent of e-mailing, texting, tweeting, and other kinds of electronic communication, an old-fashioned love letter is almost nonexistent. Luckily, there are still romantic songs around that remind us of our loved ones, songs that are really musical love letters we can send any time we feel like it.

2021 release. Although for many decades it was principally the domain of jazz-styled singers and musicians, The Great American Songbook has undergone a significant revival in recent years, in terms of the mass market's rediscovery of the genre. Loosely defined, these are the most popular and enduring songs from the 1920s through to the 50s, most of which were written for Broadway theatre, musical theatre and/or Hollywood musical movies. And although regular Pop Music has generally endured a somewhat difficult relationship with what has always been perceived as "serious" music, many R&B and early Soul performers dabbled in the Great American Songbook over the years. This unique compilation presents thirty memorable examples, featuring artists like Ray Charles, Big Maybelle, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John, LaVern Baker, James Brown, Etta James, Bobby Bland, Timi Yuro, Ruth Brown and many more. Many of these sides are hard to find elsewhere on CD.

A charming, funny, poignant collection of 23 letters from Marcel Proust to his upstairs neighbour.