Thomas May

In this guide to Wagner and his works, Thomas May explores the world of this deeply misunderstood figure and cultural icon whose influence extends to all the arts. Challenging commonly held assumptions, May serves as a guide to the great emotional power in Wagner's art and presents a straightforward overview of what Wagner attempted to achieve with his "artwork of the future." Lively discussions of his major works place them in the context of his life and consider the interplay of dramatic and musical elements with Wagner's unique philosophical ideas. Two accompanying CDs trace Wagner's growth as a composer, revealing the expressive richness that continues to make his art compelling and relevant for contemporary audiences. - Back cover.

"Issues concerning patients' rights are at the center of bioethics, but the political basis for these rights has rarely been examined. In Bioethics in a Liberal Society: The Political Framework of Bioethics Decision Making, Thomas May offers a compelling analysis of how the political context of liberal constitutional democracy shapes the rights and obligations of both patients and health care professionals. May focuses on how a key feature of liberal society - namely, an individual's right to make independent decisions - has an impact on the most important relational facets of health care, such as patients' autonomy and professionals' rights of conscience." "Although a liberal political framework protects individual judgments, May asserts that this right is based on the assumption of an individual's competency to make sound decisions. May uses case studies to examine society's approach to medical decision making when, for reasons ranging from age to severe mental disorder, a person lacks sufficient competency to make independent and fully informed choices. To protect the autonomy of these vulnerable patients, May emphasizes the need for health care ethics committees and ethics consultants to help guide the decision-making process in clinical settings."--Jacket.

Contents: Reprint of 1647 edition, imprinted by Moses Bell, for George Thomason, London.

"The John Adams Reader: Essential Writings on an American Composer is the first full-length book in English devoted to the work of John Adams, among the most frequently performed living American composers in the sphere of classical music. Sometimes called America's "composer laureate," John Adams has proved to be that rare bird - an enduring, if often controversial, figure in contemporary art music." "Although branded a minimalist early in his career, Adams has composed in many styles and forms, from opera, choral, and orchestral pieces to multimedia stage works and tape and electronic compositions. Here essays by leading music commentators and critics explore the Adams oeuvre with insights pro and con."--Jacket.