This is not a book I can read and retain much from. It is not for introductory-level ballet historians: readers are required to already know a fair amount about the subject. In the introduction, the author mentions ballets, music, composers, and the like, in an off-handed manner without describing or explaining them. If the reader is unfamiliar with the listed item, it means nothing. White noise. In the beginning paragraphs, she does the same with historical people. There is a little more information given, but not enough to make the details memorable. I must conclude that there is a very specific, very narrow audience for this book.