|
The Gadfly
''The Gadfly'' is a novel by Irish-born British writer Ethel Voynich, published in 1897 (United States, June; Great Britain, September of the same year), set in 1840s Italy under the dominance of Austria, a time of tumultuous revolt and uprisings. The story centres on the life of the protagonist, Arthur Burton. A thread of a tragic relationship between Arthur and his love, Gemma, simultaneously runs through the story. It is a tale of faith, disillusionment, revolution, romance, and heroism. Themes The book, set during the Italian ''Risorgimento'', is primarily concerned with the culture of revolution and revolutionaries. Arthur, the eponymous Gadfly, embodies the tragic Romantic hero, who comes of age and returns from abandonment to discover his true state in the world and fight against the injustices of the current one. The landscape of Italy, in particular the Alps, is a pervading focus of the book, with its often lush descriptions of scenery conveying the thoughts and moods ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ethel Voynich
Ethel Lilian Voynich ( Boole; 11 May 1864 – 27 July 1960) was an Irish-born novelist and musician, and a supporter of several revolutionary causes. She was born in Cork, but grew up in Lancashire, England. Voynich was a significant figure, not only on the late Victorian literary scene, but also in Russian émigré circles. She is best known for her novel '' The Gadfly'', which became hugely popular in her lifetime, especially in the Soviet Union. Life Ethel Lilian Boole was born on 11 May 1864, at Lichfield Cottage, Blackrock, Ballintemple, Cork, the youngest daughter of English parents, mathematician George Boole (inventor of Boolean logic), and mathematician and educationalist Mary Everest, who was the niece of George Everest and a writer for ''Crank'', an early-20th-century periodical. Her father died six months after she was born. Her mother returned to her native England with her daughters, and was able to live off a small government pension until she was appointed l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates for, a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective to describe something producing a major and sudden impact on society. Definition The term—both as a noun and adjective—is usually applied to the field of politics, but is also occasionally used in the context of science, invention or art. In politics, a revolutionary is someone who supports abrupt, rapid, and drastic change, usually replacing the status quo, while a reformist is someone who supports more gradual and incremental change, often working within the system. In that sense, revolutionaries may be considered radical, while reformists are moderate by comparison. Moments which seem revolutionary on the surface may end up reinforcing established institutions. Likewise, evidently small changes may lead to revolutionary consequences in the long term. Thus the clarity of the distinction between revolution and reform is more c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Gadfly Suite
''The Gadfly Suite'', Op. 97a, is a suite for orchestra arranged by Levon Atovmyan from Dmitri Shostakovich's score for the 1955 Soviet film ''The Gadfly'', based on the novel of the same name by Ethel Lilian Voynich.Fay, Laurel E.. Shostakovich: A Life'. United Kingdom, Oxford University Press, 2000. 355. Atovmyan's suite differs markedly from the original: the orchestration is more colorful and economic, certain sections have been transposed harmonically, and he inserted newly composed connecting passages. Movements The following are the movements of the Suite Op. 97a as arranged by Atovmian. #Overture 03:05 #Contredanse 02:37 #Folk Feast (National Holiday) 02:44 #Interlude 02:38 #Barrel Organ Waltz 02:01 #Galop 02:03 #Introduction (Prelude) 06:18 #Romance 05:54 #Intermezzo 05:49 #Nocturne 04:13 #Scene 03:18 #Finale 03:13 The "Romance" section from the suite, with its solo violin melody, is known to Western TV audiences as the theme music for the Euston Films mini-ser ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his First Symphony in 1926 and thereafter was regarded as a major composer. Shostakovich achieved early fame in the Soviet Union, but had a complex relationship with its government. His 1934 opera '' Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk'' was initially a success but later condemned by the Soviet government, putting his career at risk. In 1948, his work was denounced under the Zhdanov Doctrine, with professional consequences lasting several years. Even after his censure was rescinded in 1956, performances of his music were occasionally subject to state interventions, as with his Thirteenth Symphony (1962). Nevertheless, Shostakovich was a member of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (1947) and the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union (from 1962 until his death), as well as chairman of the RSFSR Union of Composers (1960–1968). Over ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Gadfly (1955 Film)
''The Gadfly'' () is a 1955 Soviet historical action film based on the novel by Ethel Lilian Voynich and directed by Aleksandr Faintsimmer. In 1955 the film was third in attendance in the Soviet Union, collecting 39.16 million ticket sales. The motion picture tells a story of the underground struggle of Italian patriots against the Austrian invaders for independence of their homeland. Against the background of these events is a tragic story of a man transformed from a pure heart and an enthusiastic young man to a ruthless revolutionary—the legendary and elusive Gadfly. The film adaptation is more ideological than the Voynich novel. The romantic subplot was significantly reduced; Arthur and Gemma are shown not as lovers but as party comrades and the jealousy between Arthur and Giovanni due to Gemma is not depicted. Plot Young student Arthur Burton says goodbye to his beloved teacher, the priest Montanelli, who is departing to Rome on the orders of the Pope. Arthur participate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aleksandr Faintsimmer
Aleksandr Mikhailovich Faintsimmer (Feinzimmer, ; 31 December 1906 – 21 March 1982) was a Soviet film director. He has been cited as a filmmaker on the forefront of Russian language social thriller. His son Leonid Kvinikhidze was also a film director. Filmography * '' The Czar Wants to Sleep'' (''Poruchik Kizhe'') (1934), better known as ''Lieutenant Kijé''. Sergei Prokofiev Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev; alternative transliterations of his name include ''Sergey'' or ''Serge'', and ''Prokofief'', ''Prokofieff'', or ''Prokofyev''. , group=n ( – 5 March 1953) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor who l ... wrote a famous instrumental piece, '' Lieutenant Kijé'', as its main theme. * '' Men of the Sea'' (''Baltiytsy'') (1938) * '' Tanker "Derbent"'' (1941) * '' Kotovsky'' (1942) * ''Naval Battalion'' (1944) * '' For Those Who Are at Sea'' (1947) * '' A Girl with a Guitar'' (1948) * '' They Have a Motherland'' (1949) * ''Konstantin Zaslonov'' (1949 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Gadfly (opera)
''The Gadfly'' () is a 1958 Russian-language opera by the Soviet composer of Italian descent Antonio Spadavecchia based on the novel ''The Gadfly''. An earlier opera based on the book, also called ''The Gadfly'', had been composed by Mikhail Zhukov (conductor), Mikhail Zhukov in 1928. It is set in Italy in 1834–48, one of the few Russian revolutionary operas to take a plot overseas, another being Kirill Molchanov's 1960 opera ''Del Corno Street'' following Vasco Pratolini's anti-fascist story set in Mussolini's Italy.Anglo-Soviet journal – Volumes 23 – 25 – Page 43 Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR (Great Britain) – 1962 "A special edition of The Gadfly appeared in 150,000 copies (in Russian), and an edition in English in October, 1964 ... was with her parents when they came to the novelist's flat in 1955, and the composer Spadavecchia, author of the opera." References Russian-language operas 1958 operas Operas based on novels Operas Operas set in Italy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mikhail Zhukov (conductor)
Mikhail Nikolayevich Zhukov (; 14 January 1901, Moscow – 8 November 1960, Moscow) was a Soviet and Russian conductor and composer. Zhukov graduated 1918 from the National Choral Academy in Moscow. In 1919-22 he was first concert master, then 1922-32 conductor at the Stanislavski Opera Studio. From 1932-35 conductor at the Leningrad Opera) and then again 1935-38 conductor at the Stanislavsky Opera Studio, and having obtained a diploma in the first all-Soviet conductor's competition in Moscow in 1938, 1939-41 chief conductor there. From 1944-46 he was conductor of Moscow Theatre of Operetta. From 1946-1949 he was conductor of the Latvian Opera and Ballet in Riga with Leonid Vigners. Then from 1951 till his death conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre. Zhukov is particularly noted for his association with Sergei Prokofiev, having conducted the premiere (1940) and first recording (1960) of '' Semyon Kotko''. Awards * Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1941) * Order of the Red Banner of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War (; 28 June 1922 – 24 May 1923) was a conflict that followed the Irish War of Independence and accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State, an entity independent from the United Kingdom but within the British Empire. The civil war was waged between the Provisional Government of Ireland (1922), Provisional Government of Ireland and the Irish Republican Army (1922–1969), Anti-Treaty IRA over the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The Provisional Government (that became the Free State in December 1922) supported the terms of the treaty, while the Anglo-Irish Treaty Dáil vote#Anti-Treaty, anti-Treaty opposition saw it as a betrayal of the Irish Republic proclaimed during the Easter Rising of 1916. Many of the combatants had fought together against the British in the Irish Republican Army (1919–1922), Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence and had divided after that conflict ended and the Irish Republican Army and the Anglo-Irish Treaty, treaty neg ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mountjoy Prison
Mountjoy Prison (), founded as Mountjoy Gaol and nicknamed The Joy, is a medium security men's prison located in Phibsborough in the centre of Dublin, Ireland. The current prison Governor is Ray Murtagh. History Mountjoy was designed by Captain Joshua Jebb of the Royal Engineers and opened in 1850. It was based on the design of London's Pentonville Prison also designed by Jebb. Originally intended as the first stop for men sentenced to transportation, they would spend a period in separate confinement before being transferred to Spike Island and transported from there to Van Diemen's Land. A total of 46 prisoners (including one woman, Annie Walsh) were executed within the walls of the prison, prior to the abolition of capital punishment. Executions were carried out by hanging and firing squads, after which the bodies of the dead were taken down from the gallows and buried within the prison grounds in unmarked graves. The list of Irish republican prisoners executed at Moun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism () is the political movement for an Irish Republic, Irish republic, void of any British rule in Ireland, British rule. Throughout its centuries of existence, it has encompassed various tactics and identities, simultaneously elective and militant and has been both widely supported and iconoclastic. The Modern era, modern emergence of nationalism, democracy, and Classical radicalism, radicalism provided a basis for the movement, with groups forming across the island in hopes of independence. Parliamentary defeats provoked uprisings and armed campaigns, quashed by British forces. The Easter Rising, an attempted coup that took place in the midst of the First World War, provided popular support for the movement. An Irish republic was declared in 1916 and officialized following the Irish War of Independence. The Irish Civil War, beginning in 1922 and spurred by the Partition of Ireland, partition of the island, then occurred. Republican action, including armed cam ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peadar O'Donnell
Peadar O'Donnell (; 22 February 1893 – 13 May 1986) was one of the foremost radicals of 20th-century Ireland. O'Donnell became prominent as an Irish republican, socialist politician and writer. Early life Peadar O'Donnell was born into an Irish-speaking Catholic family in Meenmore, near Dungloe, County Donegal in 1893. He was the fifth son of James O'Donnell, a kiln worker, migrant labourer, and musician, and Brigid Rodgers. His uncle Peter was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World in Butte, Montana, whom Peadar met on trips home to Ireland. He attended St Patrick's College, Dublin, where he trained as a teacher. He taught on Arranmore Island off the west coast of Donegal. Here he was introduced to socialism, organizing for the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU) in 1918 before spending time in Scotland. Irish War of Independence By 1919, he was a leading organiser for the ITGWU. He attempted in Derry to organise a unit of the Irish Citizen Ar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
