Joseph epsteins fred astaire investigates the great dancers magical talent, taking. I am conversant with this genre and with several of the great dancers and film entertainers of the 30s and 40s. Fred astaire by joseph epstein 9780300158441 paperback. Joseph epstein, the author of snobbery, has taken up yale university presss offer in a series called icons of america to write about astaire.
You know youre in trouble when the author of a book on a popular artist drags in lofty literary references to justify what. For our society should never forget what is considered great in a man. Fred astaire, by joseph epstein the globe and mail. The book lacks depth but i hope the young people in our society read it. Fred astaire by joseph epstein yale university press 198pp, sterling 14. He has been editor of american scholar and has written for the new yorker, the atlantic, commentary, town and country, and other magazines. The life of legendary dancer, singer and actor fred astaire has been chronicled before, but here, author epstein snobbery. Author joseph epstein is a 50,000 word illustration of why fred astaire is the top. Its still nice to be charmed the american spectator. Read the preface from the biography fred astaire by joseph epstein. Joseph epstein sets out to prove astaire s virtuoso ability to dance on screen superseded. Joseph epstein is an essayist and short story writer. The question that engages joseph epstein concerns fred astaire s enduring magic. Joseph epsteins fred astaire investigates the great dancers magical talent, taking up the story of his life, his personality, his work habits, his modest pretensions, and above all his accomplishments.
Joseph epstein s fred astaire investigates the great dancers magical talent, taking up the story of his life, his personality, his work habits, his modest. Joseph epstein, in addition to his engaging shortstories and amusing essay collections, has parsed at book length such life staples as snobbery 2002. And given the books coverage of astaires film career, its lack of a filmography is a. A portrait of americas most graceful and elegant male dancer and how. You know youre in trouble when the author of a book on a popular. Does it count as a labor of love if you dont work very hard. Joseph epstein has 64 books on goodreads with 11594 ratings. Joseph epstein is the author of, among other books, snobbery, friendship. What emerges from these pages is a fascinating view of an american era, seen through the accomplishments of fred astaire, an unassuming but uncompromising performer who transformed entertainment into art and gave america a new yet enduring standard for style. The american version brings a winning populist awe to his biographic probe o. Buy a cheap copy of fred astaire book by joseph epstein. A driven dancer whose apparently effortless performances linger in.
Thats the question that has to be asked about joseph epsteins slim little volume, fred astaire. Joseph epstein, in addition to his engaging shortstories and amusing essay collections, has parsed at book length such life staples as snobbery 2002, envy 2003, friendship 2006, and gossip. Joseph epstein s fred astaire investigates the great dancers magical talent, taking up the story of his life, his personality, his work habits, his modest pretensions, and above all his accomplishments. The consensus seems to be that this book serves very badly as a biography. Hollywood legend holds that when a film executive watched fred astaires first screentest, his assessment was grim. Joseph epstein is the author of, among other books, snobbery, friendship, and fabulous small jews. Joseph epsteins slim biography of fred astaire is a survey of a masters sweep. Fred astaire, by joseph epstein the objective standard. This is a superb bio that unfortunately for the dirt mongers shows fred astaire to be a great entertainer and dancer and a very decent man. He is the author of fred astaire yale university press and served as contributing editor for the weekly standard.
1206 741 855 69 933 1023 11 775 1394 290 380 141 55 1065 1197 108 22 1110 1319 1194 368 837 792 169 615 1062 580 505 437 836 982 1212 1386 1128 1019 137 1216 364 167 485