In the early 1930s, Glyndebourne founder John Christie was inspired by the opera companies of Germany and his belief that England could produce opera of the highest quality. A dedicated amateur, he built the theatre, hired a conductor and a director, and funded the company. After World War II, Christie helped develop corporate sponsorship for the theatre a unique approach at that time. Many other things distinguished the company, e.g., lengthy rehearsal periods to develop a strong ensemble and a beautiful country setting. As with so many great ventures, the early years are the most interesting; Jolliffe writes inspirationally about Christie's bold single-mindedness, his struggles to attract first-rate talent, the camaraderie, the rivalries, and the first, extraordinary performances. With the exception of Marcus Binney's Glyndebourne: Building a Vision (Thames & Hudson, 1994), which focuses on the rebuilding of the opera house, earlier books on this subject are out of print.