Joseph Epstein’s Fred Astaire investigates the great dancer’s magical talent, taking up the story... read full description
reviews
Jun 30, 2009
Ron
rated it: 
I can understand those who may have read this book and given it three or fewer stars for a rating, yet I can't help thinking about something nthat Joseph Epstein reports being said about Fred Astaire: that the person in question didn't know anything about Astaire except what he saw and heard in movies and recordings. In other words, before the public's insane and insatiable need to swallow its celebrities whole, Astaire existed almost entirely in his work; and no controversies or egotistical dis
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 12, 2009
Garry
rated it: 
What happens when you assign the foremost practitioner of the informal essay in America to write about the greatest male dancer of the 20th century? A disappointing book. Epstein is a master essayist. I have read and loved many of his essay collections. This book might have made a very nice addition to his output of essays, but weighing in at --short -- book-length the strength and charm and appeal is lost, watered down, diluted. This book suffers from the flaws often found in long-form writi
More...
Jan 08, 2009
Bookmarks Magazine
rated it:
A veteran writer, Joseph Epstein comments ably on the career and the legend of Fred Astaire, but he’s hamstrung by a problem that rarely arises in entertainment today: regarding Astaire and salacious details, stories of infidelity and reckless behavior, there’s no dishy information (or, as the critic for the New York Times Book Review astutely points out, “Astaire is never going to be ‘rescued’ for a trashy age by the revelation of a sordid private life”). But Epstein’s subtle passion for his su
More...
Dec 07, 2008
Sally
rated it:
If you're interesting in Mr. Epstein's musings and opinions, the book would get 3 stars. If you're interested in Fred Astaire himself, the book has less to offer.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 16, 2009
Jeanette
rated it:
Silly me. I picked up this book titled Fred Astaire thinking it would be about, well, Fred Astaire. But you see, it is really more about Joseph Epstein than Fred Astaire. I'll be honest, I'd never heard of Joseph Epstein before I picked up this book but now I know more about him than I could possibly care to know. Even how tall he is and how big his ears are. I don't know about you but when I pick up a biography I expect to learn about the subject of the biography and not so much about the autho
More...
Dec 24, 2011
Laura
rated it:
This is not a biography but a meditation on Astaire and dance and the transcendence of true Style, written in a breezy, urbane voice that you'll either adore or despise. Epstein tries to identify the secret ingredients that made Astaire and his dance partnerships magical on screen. I found the comparison of Astaire and Gene Kelly particularly intelligent and interesting. (I say this as a gal firmly on the Kelly side of that famous professional rivalry.)
The last paragraph is a superb s More...
The last paragraph is a superb s More...
Mar 21, 2009
Vicki
rated it:
I skimmed this book -- way too much about the abstract reasons why Fred was popular and way too much detail about his clothing, toupees, etc. About 1/3 of the book was actually about stuff that I was interested in -- his personal life and relationships with his dancing partners. I did go on iTunes and buy some Fred music that I didn't already own after reading about it here, so it wasn't a total loss. These are recordings he made for Verve in the 1950s -- just Fred and a small group of great
More...
Jun 20, 2010
Corey
rated it: 
I've never had any particular interest in Fred Astaire, but as readers of my reviews (if there are any) know, I tend to judge books by their covers. And I'm seldom wrong. This is not a straight, birth-to-death biography of Astaire, but rather a collection of essays probing what made him great. Short, thin, balding, too-large ears, too-large hands, not a great singer - but the whole was somehow greater than the sum of its parts. This book shows how Astaire was charm incarnate, and as the book
More...
Nov 03, 2008
Sherry
rated it: 
Fred Astaire was poetry in motion. No matter how flimsy the plot, Astaire movies, especially those made with Ginger Rogers, leave you feeling happy just to have watched the man dance.
As some one in this book says, he could walk across the room with more grace than most men have when they dance. The book also says that no male dancer could ever show off a woman like Astaire, and I believe that.
I enjoyed every word of this good tempered light-weight book from Yale Universi More...
As some one in this book says, he could walk across the room with more grace than most men have when they dance. The book also says that no male dancer could ever show off a woman like Astaire, and I believe that.
I enjoyed every word of this good tempered light-weight book from Yale Universi More...
Feb 22, 2009
Beverly
rated it:
Joseph Epstein has always disapointed me. He tries way too hard to be cute. Here he uses the word 'swell' over and over again in a distracting way. And of course there isn't much to say about Fred Astaire except that he was incomparably great. However, Epstein knows how to appreciate Astaire and gets it across pretty well. The last chapter, a total appreciation. is excellent,leading me to think that this book should have been an article.
Jul 31, 2009
Alan
rated it:
Slim biography focused not on the boring minutiae of this extraordinary dancer, singer, and actor's life, but on why he appealed so much to us then and why it continues. Always in style, rather than in fashion, Astaire was a brilliant beacon of creative genius on all counts. And a damned well-written book as well, so clever, it takes the reader a while to warm up to what initially comes off as a bit clever-clever (especially in light of the magnificent subject).
Nov 06, 2008
Amanda
rated it:
I love Fred Astaire, so I did like all the information I got from this book, even if it wasn't all that new to me -- Fred Astaire as an icon is just that fascinating to me.
However, I didn't really enjoy the writing style or tone. The biographer's presence was really there at times, which I find rather annoying as I think a good biographer should focus on the subject more, not inject his view of the subject as much. Unfortunately, the author did this a bit too much for me (even if it More...
However, I didn't really enjoy the writing style or tone. The biographer's presence was really there at times, which I find rather annoying as I think a good biographer should focus on the subject more, not inject his view of the subject as much. Unfortunately, the author did this a bit too much for me (even if it More...
Jan 10, 2009
Ed
rated it:
Recommended. Biography usually bores me, except for the "good parts." That's why I prefer essay-type books that concentrate on a celebrity or author's works, or place them in a certain context. This book gives a capsule of Astaire's life and career, with numerous asides.
Jul 04, 2009
Seriously one of the worse books I have ever read, and I am patient when it comes to my idols and their biographies- no mention of his amazing comediac costars, Ginger comes of as a middle aged hag- how dare he!!! 2 chps dedicated to Fred's wigs. Uncompelling. Sad.
Apr 12, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
This was a simple, shallow, and not particularly informative biography. Epstein spent far too much time discussion his opinions on Fred Astaire's looks and not enough time on facts and critical analysis. Also, I was disappointed at the lack of photographs.
Jun 22, 2009
Bill
rated it:
More of a book length essay instead of a biography, this short book looks at what makes Fred Astaire Fred Astaire. With discussions of his movies, his singing, his partnership with Ginger, the book's main focus is of course Fred's dancing. Epstein made me look more closely at what it is that I love about Astaire, and why that is. A great short read.
Aug 10, 2011
Nelly
rated it:
Great book describing Fred Astaire's life in sections. This book brought gave light to some facts I never knew about him, which was very interesting. This book further encouraged me to read his autobiography Steps In Time.
Feb 05, 2010
Sherie
rated it:
Pretty good book about an intensely private man. He was to be sure, an elegant, precise dancer, but if the reader is looking for more details about his private life, it won't be found here. The author took us down the road of the "rivalry" between Mr. Astaire and Gene Kelly. There are some of us who find ourselves without conflict with regard to the two dancers. I suppose the author felt the need to pick one over the other, but I consider them men of different talents and enjoyed watc
More...
Dec 31, 2009
Prakash
rated it:
Polished essays on various aspects of Astaire's craft. Much better than reading a biography where you're given too much information on too many things you don't care about.
Jan 19, 2009
Melissa
rated it:
I was disappointed in the author's style of writing more than the material. The book read too much like a thesis paper. This makes the author's interjections even more annoying. Good thing it was a brief book; I didn't expect such a burden from the experince of reading. I'll be adding Astaire's own account to my to-read list.
Jan 11, 2012
Megan
rated it: 
The lack of a chronological story in this story caused me to stop reading. That and the random french expressions and terms dotted throughout. Sorry Epstein.
Mar 02, 2009
reed
rated it:
A lovely little book about a very private man. The author really knows how to write and he doesn't let his respect and appreciation for Fred Astaire degrade into fawning over him.
Jun 08, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
The Astaire book I wanted to read but didn't know I wanted to read until I read it (got that?) A short, lovely appreciation.
Apr 23, 2009
Flora
rated it:
Epstein is a facile writer and his bio of Astaire light entertaining. Not satisfying; I will read more on my favorite dancer.
Dec 15, 2010
Lynn
rated it:
An interesting anecdotal discussion of the life and superb dancing of the wonderful Fred Astaire, More recounting of his skills and how he constantly refined them than a linear biography. Captures the era of his movies and the nature of Astaire, who never ceased perfecting his nearly perfect "charm" and dance for the camera. Compares and contrasts Astaire with others of his generation in style and skill, as well as his several dancing partners. A delightful read for those interested i
More...
Dec 15, 2010
Kimberly
rated it:
The book was ok. But the author used all these bizarre "french" phrases that I just did not get in the reference of Mr. Astaire. The use of these phrases just started to annoy me. But I did get an insight on Fred Astaire. I like old movies, musicals and such. So if you have that sort of interest, skimming the book would do you well.
Jan 04, 2010
"How could a string bean with an oversize forehead, jug ears, and an obvious toupee be one of the romantic leads of movie history? Epstein meditates on this heavenly hoofer from every angle, and the results will have you jonesing for a TCM movie marathon."--Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, Wis.
