An essential book for all that have only seen monochrome photographs and prints from the legendary era of the Diaghilev and W.de Basil Ballets Russes. This companion volume to the exhibition inclues 6 well researched and informed chapters to illuminate the life and times of these costumes. Not a large book at only 96 pages, and many of the pages with beautiful full page colour plates. There are 74 colour photographs of the costumes, some of costume details, others sketches and magazine or poster art. These are contrasted with 20 monochrome plates from the time period. The visual effects works very well. The text is ample enough to provide a familiarity with the subject to anyone unfamiliar, and to establish a good knowledge of the particular how, where, when and who of what is in the visuals.
A welcome addition for anyone interested in costume and the ballet. ( )