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 enlarge | Author: Meryle Secrest
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Category: Book
Buy Used: $4.95
Used (5) from $4.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 4476209
Format: Import
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 448
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
ISBN: 0747535353
EAN: 9780747535355
ASIN: 0747535353
Publication Date: 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Dustjacket is clean. Binding is tight and square. No marks or writing.
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 26-28 of 28 | | « PREV | | |
 Good for starters July 8, 1998
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Sondheim fans can rejoice at finally finding out loads of information that has been previously parceled out in tantalizing bits by those in the know or those pretending to be. The author's -- and, perhaps, Sondheim's -- intention to focus on early life experiences as a basis for artistic development is solid and well developed. However, this approach seems to leave the detailing of Sondheim's later life severely insufficient. Some major achievements and experiences are given only a scant paragraph of space. And the amount of attention given to his later shows is merely cursory, peppered with a few anecdotes one can usually find in other sources. I get the feeling Ms. Secrest became tired of her project once she wrapped up her investigation of Sondheim's childhood and its consequences. Hopefully, this book will be only the first of several authoritative (and thorough) biographies; better yet, we should pray for a memoir from the master himself. In the meantime, read this as a good starter course.
 A big disappointment July 6, 1998
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This new biography of Stephen Sondheim doesn't tell us all that much about the man. I also found the discussion of his work fairly simplistic. The author often relies on other sources and reviews rather than stating her own opinions about Sondheim's compositions. I often got the impression that the writer hadn't even seen his shows on stage. The more interesting parts are about his growing up period and his recent romantic life. Perhaps this will appeal more to those who know nothing of his contributions to the musical theater.
Sondheim laid almost bare in vibrant, intelligent fashion June 19, 1998
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the one Sondheim's fans (and critics, for that matter) have been waiting for -- the first, full-scale, thoroughly researched, smartly written biography of America's premier man of the musical theater. Written with Sondheim's cooperation, this unusually frank account of his early family traumas, personal demons and gay life is balanced by a serious consideration of each of his works (Company, Follies, Sweeney Todd, etc.), how they evolved, their strengths and weaknesses. Sondheim is an elusive character, but this book gives more more of a sense of him as a person than anything I've read before, in years of following his career closely. For theater buffs, a real page-turner.
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