Fleeing angry creditors in 1839, young Richard Wagner escapes from Latvia and stows away on a ship bound for Paris, pregnant wife and faithful dog in tow. The ship takes refuge from the stormy seas on a small Norwegian island, where echoes of the crew"s shouts against the sheer granite cliffs strike a chord in Wagner, later resounding in the theme of the seamen"s song in the "Flying Dutchman". This is just one of the intriguing tales behind the creation of 27 of our greatest operas which are brought to light in Opera Offstage. Why was the real author of Aida lost to Egyptian myth? Who was the inspiration for "Carmen"s fiery heroine? Was there really a plot behine the hostile reception to "Madame Butterfly"? All these mysteries, and many more, are solved in this collection of real-life stories. Passionate, whimsical, and often tragic as the operas themselves, they form a magnificent tribute to the great composers who are the glory of opera. "Opera Offstage" offers new fans both an entertaining introduction to the classics and a fresh look at some of the old favorites for longlong aficionados. About the author Formerly a reviewer for Opera News and Opera Canada, Milton Brener lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.