The House is I

last updated 25 April 1999

Dagmar 41

The Fall Of The House Of Usher, the Edgar Allan Poe short story, was first published in 1839.

The Fall Of The House Of Usher, the opera by Peter Hammill and Judge Smith, some twenty years in the writing, followed it in 1991.

In The House Is I, Dagmar retraces the contours of both houses. Be prepared to find some grotesques, a self-respecting vampire, certain low and indefinite sounds, Cleoparta's nose, a word from Me Debussy, mind-bending drugs, a couple of leitmotifs... and a detailed examination of The Fall Of The House Of Usher.

Reading this book, I found it invigorating to be presented with its comprehensive analysis of so many little facets, so many points of view. It ought to become a standard reference work for Poe readers.

It really brought home to me what a feat it was of Hammill and Smith to get so many things that work so well hooked into their opera. I've always regarded it among Peter's top five works, now I've a much clearer understanding why. I particularly agreed with Dagmar's closing remarks about how the opera not merely reflected the psychological drama of the original, but actually enhanced it - Adrian.

The House Is I can be obtained for £6.50 (UK), £7 (Europe) or £8 (elsewhere), inclusive of p&p from Pilgrims, PO Box 249, Chesterfield S40 4DZ, UK.

Site maintained by Adrian the Rock.