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Nureyev: The Life (Vintage)
Rudolf Nureyev, one of the most iconic dancers of the twentieth century, had it all: beauty, genius, charm, passion, and sex appeal. No other dancer of our time has generated the same excitement, for both men and women, on or off the stage.
In this superb biography, Julie Kavanagh deftly brings us through the professional and personal milestones of Nureyev's life and care...more
In this superb biography, Julie Kavanagh deftly brings us through the professional and personal milestones of Nureyev's life and care...more
Paperback, 848 pages
Published
November 11th 2008
by Vintage
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I've had several teachers who worked with Nureyev, and the stories I've heard are not pretty. This biography pretty much confirmed that impression for me. Although his acts of generosity towards his proteges are carefully documented, in general I found the dancer vile. He treats so many people in his life as if they are expendable and all the beautiful dancing in the world doesn't excuse that kind of behavior.
(*UPDATE--I spoke with one of my teachers who worked with him and he changed his...more
(*UPDATE--I spoke with one of my teachers who worked with him and he changed his...more
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Julie Kavanagh knows the dance world, and it shows. The London-based journalist and former ballerina previously wrote a prize-winning biography of choreographer Frederick Ashton, and she fills Nureyev: The Life with piercing insights into both the life of her subject and the turbulent world of professional ballet. Critics loved her riveting storytelling, and though the Christian Science Monitor complained that Kavanagh dwells too long on the dancer's experiences in the "brutal anonymity of
...more
Fascinating biography. The author tells the story of Nureyev 'warts and all' with much affection. I could hardly put it down, although it took some days to read all 700 pages! I have always loved Ballet. I have supported the VSA performances here in Lynchburg etc. Went through a period or reading bios of Balanchine ballerinas. I actually saw Maria Tallchief dance on stage when I was growing up.
In the early 1990's the director of the VSA, Jan Petrus Bosman, planned a tribute VSA Ballet fo...more
In the early 1990's the director of the VSA, Jan Petrus Bosman, planned a tribute VSA Ballet fo...more
This book is amazing just for the shear volume of facts it contains about Nureyev and the detailed picture of his life the reader comes away with. It was almost voyeuristic. If you want to really find out how at least one ultra-rich ultra-celebrity lives, this is the book for you. I think I'm fairly opened minded, but I found all the info on his sex life almost TMI! I skimmed or skipped some of the sections that analyzed Nureyev's choreography or style of dancing certain ballets, but I apprecia...more
This is a book for people who are honestly interested in dance as this is not a layman's biography of Nureyev. Filled with technical and ballet specific details, it's great for the serious ballet fan. I have just enough ballet knowledge and experience to follow most of the technical stuff, but I can see that being really boring to someone who doesn't know ballet or the stories of famous ballets. The author assumes the reader knows the story of ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Gisell...more
I always have trouble getting through the end of a biography, for obvious reasons, but this one more than most because of the sadness and indignity of Nureyev's later years. Not that he was, by all accounts, a man one would want to have dinner with, but the very stubbornness, selfishness and fire in his personality which made him such an accomplished dancer (or helped to) also appear to have made the end of his too-short life most unpleasant. Possibly those close to him may have thought the earl...more
This book is amazing. I started reading it out of an objective curiosity about this person I had heard about but knew nothing. By the end of the book however I felt as if I "knew" Nureyev personally.
It is a long book, 700 plus pages. Often in a book of that length I will do a lot of skimming. That did not happen in this book. I read each and every page (although I did have to pass over the ballet terminology, of which I know nothing, and the frequent use of French, of which ...more
It is a long book, 700 plus pages. Often in a book of that length I will do a lot of skimming. That did not happen in this book. I read each and every page (although I did have to pass over the ballet terminology, of which I know nothing, and the frequent use of French, of which ...more
A well-written pound of paper, this book chronicles the life of Rudolph Nureyev, the bad boy of ballet. His defection to the West left him with the sense that the only way his value could be measured was in securing as much money as possible. While reading this, I was often struck by the fact that his early life in the Soviet Union stayed with him so closely, in his attention seeking and having a fits like a toddler if he didn't get what he wanted. Though his drive to dance was always paramount,...more
This was a fascinating book, despite the fact that Nureyev himself didn't come across as particularly pleasant. But it was really interesting to see the enormous impact he had on dance and, in essence, to get the full story of a man who is really a legend.
incredible life - amazing but very flawed personality. How can someone be so selfish and yet so generous at the same time. Really interesting discussion of raising of awareness of HIV in the early days of the virus. Verylong book but worth the read.
A fantastic read - sympathetic, well-researched. I have to say I fell in love with him. A narcissistic, impetuous, difficult man with (delightfully) filthy language – but also a hard working, striving-to-learn genius, and a kind and generous friend.
This is a fascinating and very, very comprehensive biography of Nureyev. Much information about classical ballet is offered, and the author has researched and documented in a most professional manner.
Highly recommended, but not a 'quick' read by any means.
Highly recommended, but not a 'quick' read by any means.
As the antidote to all the children's and YA lit I read for work...an absolute monster of a biography about the most dynamic male ballet icon (other than Misha, obvs.) of the modern age. I hope I hope I hope it's as good as I want it to be!
Yo! I can't believe I stuck with this book of nonfiction. I can't believe I read it. It was compelling. An amazing morass of ego and dedication, and intriguing in terms of the wealthy famous fan base. Still, I'm ready for some fiction. But I feel so accomplished. But this book has it all... angst, drama, teeth-gnashing, beauty, evil, faith, fear, hubris, taught & stringy.... whatever... I still can't believe I stuck with it. But it is epic. And, holy cow, it's real, too.
This book was fascinating -- Nureyev had an exciting life that makes for great reading. There are no ballet dancers today that even approach the star power and broad appeal that Nureyev had. I'm not sure how much attraction this book would have for someone without a fairly serious interest in ballet, but for someone with a passion for the art form, this was a terrific book. The author is quite descriptive about the ballets that were created for Nureyev, as well as the ballets he created or...more
It took me almost two years to read this book, but it's really not the book's fault. Yes, it's over 700 pages long, but due to the fact that I have a very heavy and high quality copy I never wanted to lug it anywhere or read it while eating breakfast. So, I read it in small increments before I went to bed for a very long time. But it was well worth it -- a richly detailed account of Nureyev's fascinating life. It would have been nice if there were a little more analysis and larger picture di...more
The writing is a bit ridiculous, but I suppose one reads a biography for its subject and not the writing...? I do love Nureyev and after seven hundred pages I feel I know probably too much about him. I'd also say that approximately two hundred of those pages are basically him slowly dying and, in the end, its a relief just to be finished.
Side note: reading this book did [inspire?] a fantastic dream in which 'Rudik' and I are lounging on a couch and Jackie-O approaches us, hugs me and...more
Side note: reading this book did [inspire?] a fantastic dream in which 'Rudik' and I are lounging on a couch and Jackie-O approaches us, hugs me and...more
Great biography of a Russian trying to live in the U.S., an immense talent trying to live among ordinary people, a gay man trying to live among other closeted gays. Kavanagh's balance of minute detail for the ballet/dance expert (which I'm not, but want to be) with candid details of Nureyev's sex life is impressive. Only fairly minor complaint: wish she'd spent a bit more time exploring and interviewing Rudolph's lovers (those still living) for a more nuanced view of his romantic existence.
I read this after I saw the documentary on Nureyev's early life so there is a lot that is redundant in the first part of the book - though more detailed. A very narcissistic man, but, as with so many true artists, it seems to come with the territory, No holds barred here. There are frank discussions of his relationship with Erik Bruhn when he first came West and the longer-term relationship with Margot Fonteyn as well as the end. A good book, but a big book.
The definitive biography, based on years of research, visits to Nureyev's childhood places and extensive interviews. This is just an excellent book and provides a well-balanced view of a controversial figure. She allows his genius to show through without glossing over some of the narcissism which he often displayed. Great background of soviet Russia,
This book is really long but structured in a way that kept me going, even through some of the dance details that I really didn't get, not being a balletomane myself. He was a fascinating man, dedicated to his art but also capable of cruelty. The story of his defection touched me.
Jason
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I'm really quite curious as to how one writes a 700 page biography while saying absolutely nothing. I found this bio tedious and boring. There was no new information about Nureyev in it and yet it rambled on for 700 pages!
Astonishingly well researched, with details provided for the purpose of sculpting a very whole and real portrait of Nureyev as both the artist, and perhaps even more interestingly, the character.
A delight to find out about the smallest details of Nureyev's life the the history of his involvement with ballet.
A very thorough look at Nureyev's life. Highly recommended for the small group of bookish dance nerds.
This is the Anna Karenina of biographies. Gripping but looooong.
Great research. Worth the van Dantzig letters alone.
i was surprised how dull it was...
spectacular.
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