Customer Reviews

Noel and Cole: The Sophisticates

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This book not only takes a fresh and thoroughly readable look at two extraordinary lives -- it also includes some excellent assessments of their songs. I've read most everything published on these two men and found this book worthwhile and highly enjoyable. If only all composer bios were so intelligently handled!

Cole Porter and Noël Coward were, in many ways, the colossi of music and the theater during their era. And despite their different backgrounds, they had more than a few things in common. A parallel biography of the two men, and parallel analysis of their work, just makes sense. Stephen Citron has pulled it off admirably.

The book is arranged chronologically, and chapters alternate between the two men. Their lives frequently intersect and intertwine, but the still-significant differences between the two don't get lost. Citron is not only a skilled biographer. He also has an insightful eye for drama and music. His analysis of selected Porter and Coward songs, occupying the last sixty or so pages of the book, should be a handy reference and guide to the work of both men.

Another gift to my dad for Xmas and he was entertained with the stories and the lyrics. He didn't know about Noel...so we both learned something new. A very well-written and entertaining book.

This book is a stylish and witty dual bio of two men who were stylish and witty. Does it get any better?

What an interesting book! So well written, interesting concept...contains lyrics, analysis of music (notation) from countless songs, lots of photos and weaves the biographies of these two emblematic artists.

The Evening Standard review "An exhilarating scholarly, copiously illustrated tribute to two men who brought priceless perfection to literacy, and the art of popular entertainment. Citron (the author),himself a composer, is at best analyzing music and lyrics: neither pretentious nor patronizing to the layman."