R. A. Streatfeild's classic novel "The Opera" provides readers with an enthralling insight into the realm of the performing arts. Some stories are gruesome and bizarre, while others softly creep up on you and pull you in. The story unfolds against the backdrop of London's opera scene in the beginning of the twentieth century, providing a rich tapestry of individuals and action. The book follows different significant people, including aspiring singers, musicians, and actors, as they traverse the ups and downs of the opera industry. The work's core themes involve ambition, love, rivalry, and the quest of artistic perfection. The linked journeys of the characters create a dynamic story which keeps readers fascinated from beginning to end. Streatfeild's writing style is distinguished by vivid descriptions and complex character development. Readers are immersed into the glamorous and challenging world of opera production through the pages of "The Opera," experiencing the joys and heartaches of its heroes.
Richard Alexander Streatfeild (22 June 1866 – 6 February 1919) was a musicologist and critic from England. He worked in the British Museum, although not in the music section. His works included opera, Handel, and modern music books. He had literary interests and arranged for his buddy Samuel Butler's The Way of All Flesh to be published posthumously. Streatfeild was born in Carshalton, Surrey, the son of Southern African diplomat Frank Newton Streatfeild. He attended Oundle and Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he earned a degree in Classics. From 1889 until his death, he worked at the British Museum's Department of Printed Books. From 1898 until 1902, he was also The Daily Graphic's music critic. He contributed often to English and international magazines. Although Streatfeild never worked at the British Museum's musical section, music was his primary passion. He was a fan of contemporary music as well as Handel's work. Masters of Italian Music (1895), his first book, was a study of Verdi, Boito, and subsequent composers such as Puccini. Alec Hyatt-King said in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2014), "Streatfeild's book on Handel, though old-fashioned in some ways, is a balanced and penetrating study that is still valuable."
