Customer Reviews

Portraits of Greatness: Gershwin

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This is an incredibly well written and illustrated book; it is simply one of the best of its kind. Musically knowledgeable about Gershwin's place within the intersecting genres of jazz, Tin Pan Alley, and classical music, the book describes Gershwin's early and professional life, his compositions, plays, and songs.

Almost every page has multiple portraits, drawings (including some beautiful ones by Gershwin), programs, candid and set photos, and scores. There are rarely seen photos, such as a picture of his piano, and an ad he did for Steinway. Other photographs depict such associated luminaries as Fred and Adele Astaire, Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Hermes Pan, Irving Berlin, Ferde Grofe, Florenz Zeigfeld, Gertrude Lawrence, Ira Gershwin, and many others. The riches of these memorabilia are almost overwhelming.

These visual treasures complement the outstanding review of Gershwin's musical and social circles, the thorugh research, and the critiques of his prodigious output. (All of this in just over 100 pages!). It is incomprehensible that this outstanding book may be difficult to locate - - write to the publishing company (Treves) and ask that they publish a new edition. Hopefully, Amazon can get it for you. By all means, look for and get this book!

This is an incredibly well written and illustrated book; it is simply one of the best of its kind. Musically knowledgeable about Gershwin's place within the intersecting genres of jazz, Tin Pan Alley, and classical music, the book describes Gershwin's early and professional life, his compositions, plays, and songs.

Almost every page has multiple portraits, drawings (including some beautiful ones by Gershwin), programs, candid and set photos, and scores. There's a picture of Gershwin's piano, an ad he did for Steinway, and photos of such associated luminaries as Fred and Adele Astaire, Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Hermes Pan, Irving Berlin, Ferde Grofe, Florenz Zeigfeld, Gertrude Lawrence, Ira Gershwin, and many others. The riches of these memorabilia are almost overwhelming.

These visual treasures complement the outstanding review of Gershwin's musical and social circles, and the critiques of his prodigious output. (All of this in just over 100 pages!). By all means, look for and get this book!

This book - one of a series on great composers by a small NY publisher - is truly a delight waiting to be discovered. The author writes in a lively, compelling style about Gershwin the man and Gershwin the musician. I dare you to pick up this book and read only one page. You can't do it; you'll end up reading another, then another, then you'll get comfortable in a chair and by the time you look up, you'll have devoured 20 or 30 pages. Best of all, the book is gorgeously illustrated, not only with photos of Gershwin, his family and his colleagues, but with photos that place Gershwin in the theatrical and musical world of his time. I am the daughter of the author and it is my fondest wish that as many people as possible enjoy my late mother's beautiful work.