'The subtlety of the analysis is a particularly impressive aspect of Dayan’s argument: no word is left unquestioned, no visual image is glossed over, no statement is taken for granted in the quest to elucidate even the most gnomic utterances of these artists... He is an engaging guide to the subtleties of his subject, knowing just when he can effectively lapse into informal chattiness or share a first-person confidence, and he can also be quite self-deprecating - although one can afford to be modest when one has written a book of this quality... This study will most readily appeal to those whose interests, like Dayan's, extend beyond a single specialism to the arts in general, but it is still a must for anyone interested in this period or the artists under consideration.' Modern Language Review 'This book is a valuable addition to the growing body of work on interdisciplinary exchange within Western art, music and literature of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries... an admirable work, and one that continues to provoke a scholarly discussion with the reader long after it is put down.' Music in Art '... an interesting book... [Dayan's] conclusions are often refreshingly new.' Art History 'This engaging and meticulous book is essential reading for anyone fascinated by the visceral quality of the arts, and life on the flowing but obstinate borders between them’. French Studies