About this book
Britten's operas are firmly established in the international repertoire: according to Operabase, they are performed worldwide more than those of any other composer born in the 20th century, and only Puccini and Richard Strauss come ahead of him if the list is extended to all operas composed after 1900. Britten went to various sources for his stories from the Bible to Japanese noh plays. This is a collection of twelve of the source stories. All but one are the original texts; the one exception is A Midsummer Night’s Dream which the reader took from Charles Lamb’s telling of the story. Some operas are omitted because no public domain texts could be found for their sources. Summary by Wikipedia and David Wales
Chapters (32)
1Part 1 The Little Sweep. William Blake, The Chimney Sweeper in Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience
2Part 2 Noye's Fludde. Bible, Book of Genesis, Chapters 6-10
3Part 3 The Burning Fiery Furnace. Bible, Book of Daniel, Chapters 1-3
4Part 4 The Prodigal Son. Bible, Book of Luke, 15.11-32
5Part 5 The Golden Vanity. Traditional English Ballad
6Part 6 A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream as told by Charles Lamb in Tales Of Shakespeare
7Part 7 Peter Grimes. George Crabbe, The Borough, Letter 22 Peter Grimes
8Part 8 Albert Herring. Guy de Maupassant short story, Madame Husson's Rosier
9Part 9 Owen Wingrave. Henry James, Owen Wingrave, Section 1
10Part 10 Owen Wingrave. Henry James, Owen Wingrave, Section 2
11Part 11 Owen Wingrave. Henry James, Owen Wingrave, Section 3
12Part 12 Owen Wingrave. Henry James, Owen Wingrave, Section 4
13Part 13 The Rape of Lucretia. Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece, Section 1
14Part 14 The Rape of Lucretia. Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece, Section 2
15Part 15 The Rape of Lucretia. Shakespeare, The Rape of Lucrece, Section 3
16Part 16 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Beginning and Chapters 1-2
17Part 17 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 3-4
18Part 18 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 5-6
19Part 19 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 7-8
20Part 20 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 9-10
21Part 21 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 11-12
22Part 22 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 13-14
23Part 23 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 15-16
24Part 24 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 17-18
25Part 25 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 19-20
26Part 26 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 21-22
27Part 27 The Turn of the Screw. Henry James, The Turn Of The Screw, Chapters 23-24
28Part 28 Death In Venice. Thomas Mann, Death in Venice (Der Tod in Venedig), Chapter 1
29Part 29 Death In Venice. Thomas Mann, Death in Venice (Der Tod in Venedig), Chapter 2
30Part 30 Death In Venice. Thomas Mann, Death in Venice (Der Tod in Venedig), Chapter 3
31Part 31 Death In Venice. Thomas Mann, Death in Venice (Der Tod in Venedig), Chapter 4
32Part 32 Death In Venice. Thomas Mann, Death in Venice (Der Tod in Venedig), Chapter 5
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