Most of the best arias, transposed and arranged for amateur musicians to play and sing.
Pretty much covered the book with my sister in high school, and can still do some of my favorites. ( )

Learned to sing operatic solos out of this as a youngster. Loved the selections, and the accessible piano arrangements. Transposed to easier keys for the layman, but that didn't hurt us any. ( )

This was a very digestible way to learn about opera. Henry W. Simon has a great love for opera, and that shows, but he also has a fine sense of humor and it peeks through his writing as well. Now I need to actually see or hear an opera. The only one I've heard thus far is Carmen.
It is amazing how many references to these operas I've read through the years without knowing to what they referred. Now I do. The quest begins. ( )

Book Description: New York: Simon and Schuster, 1946. Paperback. 1946 unknown edition, soft cover. Near fine condition, unmarked. 357 pages.