A New Melba? The Tragedy of Amy Castles by Jeff Brownrigg

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Book is covered in contact. Slight skew to spine. Interior is excellent.

In the late 1890s, when Melba was at the zenith of her career, Amy Castles, a simple girl from Bendigo, was vigorously promoted as the person most likely to displace Melba.

The Castles boom of 1899 began the Melba bashing that exposed Australia's cultural insecurities. It also condemned Amy to a life of tragically futile efforts to overtake and displace the great diva. (back cover)