Ivory, Apes and Peacocks is a collection of essays by the American critic James Huneker, surveying figures and currents in music, literature, and the arts with his trademark wit and erudition. Huneker writes on composers, writers, and modern movements with the verve of a connoisseur eager to share his enthusiasms.
Music holds a central place among the subjects, with essays touching on the composers and tendencies that engaged Huneker’s restless curiosity. His glittering prose and broad culture made him one of the most read critics of his time. As a representative gathering of his work, the book offers lively and discerning commentary for readers interested in the arts of the early twentieth century.