Golden Tobacco And Red Paprika (Rev.)

Describing ponds and mires as tarnished mirrors softly
reflecting dry reeds and dappled skies* is the way Nada
Curcia-Prodanovic saw scenery on tours made by the
Belgrade Ballet School in Southern Serbia

With characters like the bus driver recounting tales of
youth brigades preparing ground for big vineyards*; a
communist Home of Culture with floors full of holes, the
piano in Kossovska Mitrovitsa dating from before 1389,
legs replaced by a barrel, bricks and a kitchen stool*

Driving to Prizren, whitewashed* cottages with garlands of
golden tobacco and wreaths of red paprika hung out to dry*,
big yellow pumpkins in courtyards, the glories of vanishing
Serbian groups – magical concerts in exotic places;

the richly illustrated cover caught my eye when I read her
first book Ballerina* over and over, discovered the second
ballet book this week, overjoyed to read a new story by my
favourite ballet dancer turned author


1."Ballet on Tour" Nada Curcia-Prodanovic, illustrated by
Dusan Ristic; Oxford University Press 1972

Phrases quoted from these pages:

* ponds and mires as tarnished mirrors softly reflecting
dry reeds and dappled skies p.1

* youth brigades preparing ground for big vineyards p.42

* dating from before 1389, legs replaced by a barrel,
bricks and a kitchen stool p.11

* whitewashed* cottages with garlands of golden tobacco
and wreaths of red paprika hung out to dry, big yellow
pumpkins in courtyards p.35



2. "Ballerina" Nada Curcia-Prodanovic, illustrated by
Dusan Ristic; Oxford University Press 1961


COMMENT:

“A pretty way to show your admiration for a fine dancer and author.”

PEANUTS REPLY:

“I love beauty in all its forms and if my little note is an example
of “pretty”, I am content, I cannot aspire to more regarding this
subject – thank you for polishing and making it prettier.”