He was guest editor for best american essays 1993 and teaches at northwestern university. The book is all about opinions of various celebrities of fred astaire. He was born in nebraska in 1899, three years after his sister, adele. Joseph epstein, the author of snobbery, has taken up yale university presss offer in a series called icons of america to write about astaire. The american version brings a winning populist awe to his biographic probe o. Oct 06, 2009 a portrait of americas most graceful and elegant male dancer and how he came to represent the essence of style, suavity, and charm 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.
His own books of essays include the middle of my tether, once more around the block, a line out for a walk, pertinent players, and with my trousers rolled all published by norton. After beginning work as a dancer and vaudeville performer at the age. 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. Describing the beloved depressionera songanddance classic. The life of legendary dancer, singer and actor fred astaire has been chronicled before, but here, author epstein snobbery. Oct 22, 2008 joseph epstein, the author of snobbery, has taken up yale university presss offer in a series called icons of america to write about astaire. Fred astaireby joseph epstein yale university press 198pp, sterling 14. Author joseph epstein is a 50,000 word illustration of why fred astaire is the top. Buckley, might do with a selfdescribed slender disquisition on this.
Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Rogers thought herself, rightly, a performer of wider talent than was made use of in her movies with astaire. Because epstein focuses on astaires work in dancethemed musicals, there is nothing in the book about his later roles in on the beach 1959, finians rainbow 1968, or the towering inferno 1974, for which he received an oscar nomination. By joseph epstein yale university press, 2008 one doesnt read joseph epsteins most recent book, fred astaire, to learn new things about fred astaire. Whence derived fred astaire his sublimity, his magic. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience.
He was liked and respected by all who came in contact with him. Mark steyn on the grace and work ethic of fred astaire. Arlene croce, author of the excellentthe fred astaire and ginger rogers book, underscores the point that ginger rogers was as eager to leave the astairerogers partnership as was fred astaire. Oct 21, 2008 in fred astaire yale university press, joseph epstein sets out to discover what made this unlikely movie star sublime. Fred astaire defines star just in his name, but he embodies what it means to achieve selfperfection to such a degree that his genius stands alone. Joseph epstein born january 9, 1937 is an essayist, shortstory writer, and editor. That is the great, happy question at the centre of this little book. In fred astaire yale university press, joseph epstein sets out to discover what made this unlikely movie star sublime. Fred astaire, by joseph epstein the objective standard. Written with the wit and grace the subject deserves, fred astaire provides a remarkable portrait of this extraordinary artist and how he came to embody for americans a. 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. Oct 19, 2008 joseph epstein, the author of snobbery, has taken up yale university presss offer in a series called icons of america to write about astaire.
Even nureyev said he was the greatest in the world. Joseph epstein has been the editor of the american scholar since 1975. Fred astaire by joseph epstein 9780300158441 paperback. Joseph epstein is an essayist and short story writer. Joseph epsteins fred astaire investigates the great dancers magical talent, taking up the story of his life, his personality, his work habits, his modest. Fred astaire offer, po box 200 falmouth tr11 4wj or call 0871 988 8367 or.
Arlene croce the fred astaire and ginger rogers book 1st. A portrait of americas most graceful and elegant male dancer and how he came to represent the essence of style, suavity, and charm 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. Frederick austerlitz was an austrian immigrant who took a series of deadend jobs in omaha, nebraska. Fred astaire by joseph epstein signed first edition hcdj. Joseph epsteins compact book, fred astaire, explains how a skinny, jugeared fellow danced his way into american movie history for a dancing with the starsera readership. Does it count as a labor of love if you dont work very hard.
Epstein, joseph fred astaire 1st edition 1st printing. 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. Buy the paperback book fred astaire by joseph epstein at indigo. Sep 15, 2009 by joseph epstein yale university press, 2008 one doesnt read joseph epsteins most recent book, fred astaire, to learn new things about fred astaire. One reads it to see what the former editor of the american scholar and author of snobbery. Fred astaire, by joseph epstein the globe and mail. 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. Fred astaire, by joseph epstein bright lights film.
Nothing new here, fred astaire will always be the top of what is good in life. Joseph epstein 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. Mom whisked the babes off to new york for dancing lessons when fred was 5. Most of astaires admirers have all his movies on film, but here, she captures him so many times in wonderful stills. Nov 04, 2009 to order fred astaire by joseph epstein yale university press at. A portrait of americas most graceful and elegant male dancer and how he came to represent the essence of style, suavity, and charm 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. Legendary influential dancer and icon of classic hollywood cinema, actor and musical performer inspired adult coloring book fred astaire books. Joseph epstein, in addition to his engaging shortstories and amusing essay collections, has parsed at book length such life staples as snobbery. A driven dancer whose apparently effortless performances. This short biography, part of yale universitys icons of america series, is like its subjectaccessible yet elegant astaire began his dance training at the age of five after his mother, johanna. From 1974 to 1998 he was the editor of the magazine the american scholar. I had been reading his book, fred astaire, which is a little, small meditation, really, a biography on fred astaire. I am conversant with this genre and with several of the great dancers and film entertainers of the 30s and 40s.
Its still nice to be charmed the american spectator. He writes a number of books, and writes for commentary, and used to ms. Joseph epstein books list of books by author joseph epstein. Joseph epstein 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. Mark steyn on the grace and work ethic of fred astaire, the. The american version, the wittiest essayist alive according to william f. Thats the question that has to be asked about joseph epsteins slim little volume, fred astaire. Eight pages before wrapping up his breezy, insightful fred astaire, joseph epstein veers off into a comparison of the 1935 fred astaire ginger rogers classic top hat and the 2007 juliette binochejude law dud breaking and entering. This is part of the immediate appeal of this book by sarah giles.
Oct 16, 2009 a portrait of americas most graceful and elegant male dancer and how he came to represent the essence of style, suavity, and charm 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. Buy a cheap copy of fred astaire book by joseph epstein. On the work of henry james, and his loyal following. For our society should never forget what is considered great in a man. Aug 20, 2009 kelly huffed and puffed, astaire glided and grinned p. Discover book depositorys huge selection of joseph epstein books online. Adele astaire born adele marie austerlitz, later known as lady charles cavendish. The book lacks depth but i hope the young people in our society read it. In other words, the author is aware that this is a little book, and his ambition is merely to lay out in twelve chapters the essence of fred astaires magic. The american version brings a winning populist awe to his biographic. You know youre in trouble when the author of a book on a popular artist drags in lofty literary references to justify what. In the light and lively fred astaire, author and journalist joseph epstein offers an excellent overview of the career of the worlds greatest male ballroom and tap dancer.
Joseph epsteinsfred astaireinvestigates 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. Nothing in the family background suggested a glittering future. The untrivial pursuit houghton mifflin harcourt and fred astaire yale university press. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
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