Book excerpt: First published in 1936, Calvocoressi's and Abraham's study was the first complete account of its subject to appear in any language, including Russian, and was based on a large amount of original first-hand research. Over 75 years later Masters of Russian Music retains its power - as any study of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakof, Scriabin, Borodin et al really ought to, since these were composers whose extraordinary musical accomplishments still left room in their lives for all manner of other interesting (and sometimes eccentric) activities. The portraits in this volume are scholarly, authoritative, and highly lively - as befitting the eminent talents under discussion.