Liberace: An American Boy
by Darden Asbury Pyron
List Price:
Our Price: $16.99
You Save: $5.51 (24%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $3.08 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Darden Asbury PyronEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2001-06-01
ISBN: 0226686698
Number of pages: 512
Publisher: University Of Chicago Press
Book Reviews of Liberace: An American Boy
Book Review: A Thousand Words in Search of an Editor
Summary: 1 Stars
One of the more incoherent biographies of recent times, this tract begins with the flaw of wanting to be metaphorical. Wally Liberace was an enjoyable high-camp entertainer, who appeared at a time when you could cause controversy wearing white tails in a classical recital. The author takes a wildly discursive journey through post-war America, trying to draw curious parallels with the entertainer's career (and hookum Cluade Bristol philosophy, which extolled mind mastery to overcome every problem including physical disability), and America's own story of upward mobility and unlimited opportunity for anyone with a dream. A writer with better judgement would have not over reached but simply told this as the story of an ambitious entertainer who made it big by offering class to people with little taste during a time of post-war austerity, then parlayed this into visual controversy ("topping himself" with ever greater extravagance) after the initial novelty wore off. The prose is choked with philosophical discursion and rhetorical questions, none of which are developed or answered, which belong in an undergraduate tutorial on identity theory. At one point, the narrative stops as the author conducts a tail chasing exposition on sexual identity that goes on for several pages. What a competent prose stylist could have said in a brief chapter goes on for dozens of pages. Like his subject, the wordsmith seems more intent on putting on a show than providing a coherent narrative. This book won't shed much light on the club career before the television series, how the performer created the act and the personae, and is silent about the attempt by management to turn him into a bandleader at one stage.
To the unwary, this big, imposing book might look like it offers a substantial, even definitive account. Don't be fooled.
Instruments & Performers Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Instruments & Performers Books
Instrument of Worship Volume OneBenson Records; Paperback; Book
Season of Peace: GuitarGIA Publications; Published: 1993-06; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Amazing Love: PianoGenevox Music Group; Published: 1994-07; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Majestic Trumpet Trios Christmas: Volume 2Majestic Music Publications; Published: 1996-09; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Majestic Brass Quartets: Volume OneMajestic Music Publications; Published: 1996-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
101 Ways to Evangelize: 88 KeysIntrada Music; Paperback; Book
Keyboard Duets for Organ & PianoHope Publishing Company (IL); Paperback; Book
Glory Forever: Medium RangeAlexandria House; Paperback; Book
Glory Forever: Full RangeAlexandria House; Published: 1991-03; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Beethoven`s Piano Sonatas: A Short Companionby Dr. Charles Rosen, Charles Rosen
Yale University Press; Published: 2001-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $26.73
Price in other shops:
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Liberace: Your Personal Fashion Consultantby Michael Feder, Karan Feder
Harry N. Abrams; Published: 2007-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.72
Price in other shops:
Liberace: The True Storyby Bob Thomas
St. Martins Press; Published: 1989-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $49.29
Liberace : An Autobiographyby Liberace
Warner Books> C/o Little Br; Published: 1976; Paperback; Book
Best price: $93.06
Behind the Candelabra: My Life With Liberaceby Scott Thorson
Knightsbridge Pub Co Mass; Published: 1990-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $208.86
Liberace: The Ultimate EntertainerUltimate; Release date: 2007-09-18; DVD
Best price: $13.38
Price in other shops:
Liberace - Behind The MusicRelease date: 2005-09-13; DVD
Best price: $7.24
The Wonderful Private World of Liberaceby Liberace, Michael Segell
Harpercollins; Published: 1986-09; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.75
The Legendary LiberaceMPI; Release date: 2002-06-25; DVD
Best price: $12.01
Price in other shops:
Liberace: The True Storyby Bob Thomas
St Martins Pr; Published: 1988-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.96
Price in other shops:
Behind the Candelabra (My Life With Liberace)by Scott Thorson, Alex Thorleifson
E P Dutton; Published: 1988-06-22; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $28.67