This book represents an attempt to examine how collaborative fire is captured in a bottle and then how it fizzles out as Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill and Lotte Lenya (foremost of the three women of the subtitle) had an almost delirious experience creating "The Three Penny Opera" but could never quite recreate the experience, which one is inclined to blame on the instrumental mentality towards other individuals that Brecht seemed to cultivate almost effortlessly. Apart from that one also has to be struck by how flat-footed the rise of the Nazi Party caught these men, as one might have thought that their affected cynicism towards German society would have left them more astute about real-life politics. ( )

This is not particularly well written - it is dense and repetitive but the subject matter is fascinating - not just the relationship between Brecht and Weill but the important women in their life. Hauptmann remains kind of cipher, unfortunately, but I did gain understanding of how Lenya and esp Weigel fit in to both men's careers.

There are tons of cool facts though and very detailed descriptions of rehearsal processes and opening nights. The screenplay for the dress rehearsal of Threepenny Opera remains to be written - it would make a delicious movie.

Also, a very timely read, the Weimar republic and all. ( )

Interesting because of the subjects, not because of the writing. ( )