Nureyev: The Life by Julie Kavanagh Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Nureyev: The Life
Book Review: Fascinating
Summary: 5 Stars
Nureyev: The Life
This is a page turner of a book- not only for the unusual life of Nureyev but also for a look into the world of dance. As great a dancer as he was, even he struggled repeatedly to find his place in the world. As he aged, he needed to change his repertoire, and, eventually, his career. Julie Kavanagh is a dancer who understands the politics of dance and builds in enough detail to make us feel the frustrations and struggles of Nureyev as he tries to find a company which fits his personality.
Book Review: INSIGHTFUL COMMENTARY IN THIS STUNNING BIO
Summary: 5 Stars
He was born on a train as his mother and sisters journeyed to be with his soldier father. Of this unusual entrance into the world, Nureyev was to say "...it was the most romantic event of his life, symbolic of his future statelessness and nomadic existence."
His was a life lived from place to place from humble beginnings in a Russian village to the most luxurious surroundings the world could offer. He was an icon, libidinous, both men and women were drawn to him. The great love of his life, according to this author, was the great Danish dancer Erik Bruhn. One reason for his defection Nureyev is quoted as saying is because he wanted to learn to dance like Bruhn and "to study with Bruhn's teacher, the Russian born Vera Volkova, a childhood friend of Pushkin's."
Many were to play a part in Nureyev's life and career, They helped him in numerous ways, introductions, opportunities, advancing his talent. However, once these people had served their purpose they "became dispensable."
A trained ballet dancer Ms. Kavanagh brings insightful commentary to this stunning biography, which abounds with quotes from letters, diaries, and interviews. All of these bring an immediacy to her narrative, an accessibility, if you will, to Nureyev's thoughts and ambitions. He was, of course, a superstar, an idol who lived a flamboyant life and brought a spectacular aura to the world of dance. Nureyev the man was unparalleled, and so is his biography by Julie Kavanagh.
- Gail Cooke
Book Review: Nothing New Under The Sun
Summary: 3 Stars
Although Ms Kavangh's work reflects a huge amount of research, I do not believe she has brought any new fresh insights into the history of the greatest male dancer of the 20th century. In fact, some elements of his life's story are short-changed, such as his stormy tenure at the helm of the Paris Opera Ballet. Nor does she adequately address, in my opinion, his shortcomings as a choreographer, which in retrospect almost overwhelm his achievements as a dancer. An unnecessarily lengthy work, you're better off browsing through it at the local library, than investing in a copy.Book Review: The man and his amazing talent
Summary: 4 Stars
Rudolf Nureyev, flamboyant dancer with the Kirov Ballet of Leningrad (St. Petersburg), began life on a train to the Eastern Russian front. He was the son of Tatar parents from a remote part of the Soviet Union. His father was a soldier who was rarely home. The family was extremely poor and often hungry, but his mother managed to sneak them into a performance of a ballet when Rudolf was five. He was determined from that time on to learn to dance and perform on the stage. He had the talent, determination and perseverance to succeed.
Julie Kavanagh has documented the life of this dancing man in this encyclopedic volume. She includes information about Nureyev's early training in his hometown, Ufa, his extensive training with mentor Pushkin and Pushkin's wife, Xenia in St. Petersburg. She details his defection to the West in Paris that read like a spy novel - complete with KGB operatives.
Nureyev passion for dance and for learning propels him to work with choreographers from the Paris Opera Ballet to West Side Story. Kavanagh includes titillating factoids about Nureyev's personal life - hobnobbing with the rich and famous, his womanizing, his homosexual lifestyle, and his final battle with HIV/AIDS. She also talks about his dancing.
Nureyev is first and foremost a ballet dancer and she documents his transition from the formal classical ballet style to the avant-garde modern dance styles he helped to create.
This tome, and it is a tome of nearly 700 pages without counting the extensive footnotes, acknowledgements and index, is an extensive account of a fascinating person. It is quite readable, with the caveat that there are multitudinous Russian names, ballet terminologies, and musical references. These kept me reading somewhat slower than usual.
The book also has three large sections of photographic illustrations.
Armchair Interviews says: Anyone with a strong interest in ballet history or in Nureyev himself will find this to be a very satisfying book.
Book Review: Thorough and unflinching biography
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this in December 2010 having recently gotten interested in Nureyev's life and work. Of all the Nureyev bios available, this book is the best of the bunch, hands down. I didn't find it too long, even though it's 700 pages. Not a bad page in the book, either. The way she unfolds the story is masterful, she really lets the reader build up to a full image of the man, chapter by chapter. By the time you reach the end, you've got a pretty good idea of the complexities and paradoxes of this exceptional person. I'm surprised there haven't been more reviews of this book here -- most are from 2007 -- but now with the release of Apollo's Angels, which is a big hit, maybe that will inspire new readers to pick up this one and learn some more about the world of ballet and dance. After I read this book, I bought several DVDs of Nureyev ballets, a fair number of both used and new books, and even a couple of really old VHS tapes. I wish more film was available of him performing modern works. This is a superb book, with lots to think about as you read it. I liked Kavanagh's writing style so much, I ended up buying the bio she wrote about Frederic Ashton, which should make a good companion piece to the Nureyev bio.
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