Streisand: A Biography (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fans of the singer/actress/director will devour all 600 pages of this book, and even those less enamored will admit that it takes a hefty volume to do justice to the tangled psyche of a star as legendary for her temperament as her talent. Anne Edwards, who has infused the celebrity bio with class in a dozen previous books, does her usual thorough research and manages to combine plenty of juicy anecdotes with a thoughtful, generally favorable evaluation of the super-diva's career, from early fame in Funny Girl to labors of love like Yentl.

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran celeb biographer Edwards's life of Barbara Streisand is a sterling example of diva lit. The book is energized by the author's love/hate relationship with her subject. Streisand's well-known story is recounted in compelling and evocative detail, from her escape from an emotionally withholding mother, through her early stardom in Funny Girl and Hello, Dolly!, to her current status as film auteur and pop icon. Edwards (Vivien Leigh) portrays a performer convinced of her own star quality even as a beginner?stealing the Broadway show I Can Get It for You Wholesale in a small part and battling for control of her movies with veteran directors like William Wyler, Gene Kelly and Vincente Minnelli (and winning as often as not)?and generally turning every song, performance and motion picture into an ode to herself. Streisand has not endeared herself to colleagues. Walter Matthau is quoted as calling her "a boa constrictor" and, in her acknowledgments, Edwards cites "over a hundred people" who spoke to her but did not want their names used. Throughout, Edwards mixes breathless awe at Streisand's talent and indomitable willpower with obvious contempt for what the author sees as the actress's narcissism, arrogance and lack of concern for others. Thus, Edwards can condemn "the extraordinary meanness of the press" only 20 pages after thumping Streisand for her "strikingly egotistical manner" in taking sole credit for The Prince of Tides. In the end, the book seems a lot like Streisand herself: many times far from lovable, but never less than fascinating. The book includes full listings of Streisand's film, recording, TV and theatrical credits, as well as photos, not seen by PW.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 600 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T); 1st edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316211389
• ISBN-13: 978-0316211383
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,755,757 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Filled with fun facts but the end falls short, February 5, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

After reading, Edwards book on the famous singer, I found that Edwards has definately done her homework. There were many interesting and fun facts and factlets about Barbra's life and, especially, the people in them. However, the last few chapters fall apart and I couldn't help but wonder what the big rush seemed to be in not paying as close attention to detail as Edwards had early on in Barbra's life. Clearly, she holds Streisand in high regard, since Edwards presents her life as if she is one of her biggest fans. The book opens with the Las Vegas concerts and ends about 5 years after, giving the reader no sense of closure. A flaw in writing the biography of a person who's story isn't over yet.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A very good, and intimate portrait of Barbra Streisand, November 2, 1998

By A Customer

I really enjoyed reading this book about Barbra. I was getting to the end of the book, and I was thinking, "this book has been fab!" But the end of the book was all about how difficult Barbra was to work with in The Mirror Has Two Faces. Not a nice way to end a book. The majority of people who are going to read this book are Streisand fans, and we don't want an ending like this, do we?

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABSOLUTELY DIVINE, LIKE THE DIVA HERSELF!!, October 13, 1998

By A Customer

Barbra Streisand is my rolemodel,icon,idol,inspiration,and hope. She has made it possible for me to believe in my dreams.And this wonderful book documents a phenomenons life. One day if my goal is accomplished I will be able to have said I've been graced with her presence!An absolute pleasure to read!