"still a spanking good introduction for the general reader...It is the vividness of the language which sticks in our minds as a monument to a more prosaic age or the advantages of a classical education."--
The Musical Times"Jack Westrup had already garnered most of what it seems we are ever likely to know about Purcell's life; he had a detailed grasp of the 17th-century background and decided views on Purcell's work itself"--
BBC Music Magazine"invaluable for students and music enthusiasts alike"--
Composer"classic study of the life and works of Henry Purcell... a useful tool for the dancer"--
Historical Dance"Holman...provides essential information, missing elsewhere, about how Purcell's music was performed."--
The Times Literary Supplement