The Smiling Frankenstein

In this highly personal and thoroughly researched volume, composer Jaroslav Šťastný (Peter Graham) introduces his perspective on John Cage, one of the strongest compositional voices of the twentieth century. Comprised of two older essays and the recent text that gives this volume its name, The Smiling Frankenstein presents a broad perspective on John Cage, detailing not only the music and its philosophical background, but also Cage’s influence on visual art, theatre, and poetry in particular. Rather than a dry, scholarly tome, The Smiling Frankenstein is a personal perspective on Cage and his influence through the lens of one of the most original and inventive composers in post-1989 Czechia.