Stephen Sondheim: A Life

Now and then there were lacunae in the text which were daunting, considering that they were coming from such an experienced author and such a prestigious publishing house. But it was a fast read. As fast as a house on fire.


A Little Sondheim?   August 22, 1998
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After reading Meryle Secrest's surprisingly accurate account of the life of Leonard Bernstein, I acted as quickly as I could to lay my hands on a copy of her new Stephen Sondheim biography. The book completely met up to my expectations, and though it was not perfect (as no book can be), Ms. Secrest continues to tell things as they are, in a straightforward, honest approach. She may quote one person who has a particularly strong viewpoint, but will almost always include a contradictory statement, or one that reinforces it. She writes with wit and with style, using words that are perhaps the best that could be found for the occasion, without making reading too heavy. Even if you were not a musical theater enthusiast, you would still thoroughly enjoy this fascinating book. It describes a man so unique in his lifestyle and his art that he has won himself the highest seat in recent musical theater. He has not always had critical or financial successes, but he (in my mind) has always had artistic ones. Perhaps if would sound like I am writing a review of Stephen Sondheim, but no. I am simply illustrating that Meryle Secrest paints a definitive portrait using the paint of numerous interviews with colleagues and the man himself, and the canvas of her own unique writing style. If only there was an option of four and one half stars, because that would be my rating for this fine book.