[quite a nice copy, with just a touch of wear at spine ends (both book and jacket), non-authorial gift inscription to "Ray" from "Spec" on ffep; the jacket also has a couple of teensy-weensy closed tears at top of front panel, effectively rendered invisible (and protected from future expansion) by a new mylar jacket cover]. (pen and ink drawings) "An opera book without libretto or score, which nevertheless portrays the tragedy of unrequited love, the peril of fame, the intrigue of backstage life, the nefarious scheming of the very rich, and a profound moral."