Musicology Annotation << Back In the wake of Mikhail Glinka in Italy. Review of the book «Mikhail Glinka and Italy. Mysteries of life and creativity» by E.M. Petrushanskaya Elena M. Alkon The book «Mikhail Glinka and Italy. Mysteries of life and creativity» (Moscow, 2009) by E. Petrushanskaya is regarded as an integral part of a comprehensive study of the composer’s wanderings initiated by Ukrainian scientists S. Tyshko and S. Mamaev. At the same time another approach, caused by Glinka’s contradictory attitude towards the Italian music, is provided in the reviewed publication. The theme «Glinka and Italy» requires analysis of Glinka’s music, comparisons and evaluation of its novelty. The reviewer greatly appreciates the hermeneutical study, which involves such concepts as «native – foreign», Italian – Russian, East – West. Informative richness and novelty of ideas are marked as eminently exclusive. The reliability is substantiated by multiple new documents. The author’s observation and sensitivity while interpreting the received materials as well as her knowledge of the Italian realities and wide art scope are of great importance. Brilliant style and perfection of form introduces this book into a number of valuable, outstanding ones. The serious view on Glinka’s buffoonity deserves special attention. The book is recommended to musicologists, to wide range of professionals in the humanities, admirers of Glinka’s music and readers interested in cultural tourism. Keywords: M. Glinka, «native – foreign», Italian – Russian, East – West, buffoonity, cultural tourism. Contacts: E-mail: elenalkon@mail.ru Pp. 45-49.