Biography

Mr. B: George Balanchine's 20th Century

Mr. B: George Balanchine's 20th Century

  • Downloads：1316
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-11-04 18:21:41
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jennifer Homans
  • ISBN：0812994302
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Reviews

Lauren ，

This incredibly， incredibly detailed book delved deep into the life of arguably the man who brought modern ballet into the spotlight - especially into the Americas。 Balanchine is the name one associates with ballet when one doesn't know much about it， and this book gave new life to the man behind （literally） the curtain。 I grew up dancing ballet and Balanchine was always a mysterious figure who was always seen as impacting everything even after his death。 This book was a heavily detailed but inf This incredibly， incredibly detailed book delved deep into the life of arguably the man who brought modern ballet into the spotlight - especially into the Americas。 Balanchine is the name one associates with ballet when one doesn't know much about it， and this book gave new life to the man behind （literally） the curtain。 I grew up dancing ballet and Balanchine was always a mysterious figure who was always seen as impacting everything even after his death。 This book was a heavily detailed but informative read。 Some readers might find this too in-depth， and if that's the case they can skip around to parts that may interest them the most。 A lovely read。 Thanks to NetGalley， the author， and the publisher for this ARC！ 。。。more

Jennifer Schultz ，

This is a thorough examination of Balanchine's fascinating life and career。 Balletomanes will definitely want to read it。 Is it a little overlong in details for Balanchine's friends and acquaintances？ In my opinion， yes。 But that's a minor complaint for an otherwise beautifully written biography。 Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review。 This is a thorough examination of Balanchine's fascinating life and career。 Balletomanes will definitely want to read it。 Is it a little overlong in details for Balanchine's friends and acquaintances？ In my opinion， yes。 But that's a minor complaint for an otherwise beautifully written biography。 Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Sherry Brown ，

This book is the life story of George Balanchine。It was intriguing， very interesting and heart touching。

Becca Hansen ，

This biography is extensively thorough， and explores the dynamic George Balanchine in depths that we’ve never seen before。 It was absolutely fascinating to learn about the connection between the complexities and difficulties in Balanchine’s life and his choreography。 I will say， however， readers who are not either from the dance world， or appreciators of the art， may have a difficult time getting through it， because it is LONG and dense。 Growing up as a dancer and learning Balanchine’s methods， This biography is extensively thorough， and explores the dynamic George Balanchine in depths that we’ve never seen before。 It was absolutely fascinating to learn about the connection between the complexities and difficulties in Balanchine’s life and his choreography。 I will say， however， readers who are not either from the dance world， or appreciators of the art， may have a difficult time getting through it， because it is LONG and dense。 Growing up as a dancer and learning Balanchine’s methods， I was absolutely fascinated。 Entranced， even。 Homans’ depth of research is something to be marveled。 。。。more

Ruth ，

This is the most detailed and exhaustive biography of George Balanchine I've ever read。 Jennifer Homans previously wrote Apollo's Angels， documenting the history of ballet。 In this tome， at nearly 800 pages， she revisits "Mr。 B"'s dramatic life。 She begins with his family ancestry and history of Russia during the past few centuries。 She continues through details of his childhood， his tragic experience during the war， and eventual migration through Europe。 Homans parallels the loves and conflicts This is the most detailed and exhaustive biography of George Balanchine I've ever read。 Jennifer Homans previously wrote Apollo's Angels， documenting the history of ballet。 In this tome， at nearly 800 pages， she revisits "Mr。 B"'s dramatic life。 She begins with his family ancestry and history of Russia during the past few centuries。 She continues through details of his childhood， his tragic experience during the war， and eventual migration through Europe。 Homans parallels the loves and conflicts of Balanchine's life with the ballets he choreographed。 This is a fascinating read。 It is several hundred pages until he begins his ballet dynasty with Lincoln Kirstein （whose own history is extensively detailed）。 Her travels throughout Europe and the many， many Balanchine associates she interviewed are evident throughout the telling of the influential genius' life。 。。。more