Overview

"In his life and in his music, Cole Porter was the top--the pinnacle of wit and sophistication. From the 1910s through the 50s, from Yale pep rallies through the Broadway triumphs of Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate, he delighted audiences with a glittering torrent of song: ""I Get a Kick Out of You,"" ""Night and Day,"" ""Love for Sale,"" and ""Just One of Those Things."" The bright surface of these gems made them instant pop hits. Their more subtle qualities and their musical and emotional depth have made them lasting standards, among the greatest glories of the American songbook. In Cole Porter, William McBrien has thoroughly captured the creator of these songs, whose life was one not only of wealth and privilege but also of tragedy, secrecy, and courage. A prodigal young man, Porter found his aesthetic and emotional anchor in a long, loving, if sexless marriage, while continuing to maintain many discreet affairs with men. In 1937, at the height of his success, he suffered a near-fatal riding accident; his last eighteen years were marked by pain, drugs, and repeated operations on his legs, years of physical agony but unstinting artistic achievement. Here is the book that Porter's fans have long hoped for--a life that informs the great music and lyrics though illuminating glimpses of the hidden, complicated, private man."

Full Product Details

9798212306522

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

"William McBrien (1930-2009) was an English professor at Hofstra University from 1967 until his retirement in 1998. He authored several books, including Cole Porter and Stevie: A Biography of Stevie Smith. A two-time AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator, raised in the U.K. with American parents, Joel Froomkin provides a flawless blend between authentic American and British sounds. He is a specialist in dialects-having taught accents at NYU and coached Broadway stars and celebrities at major regional theaters and national tours. Classically trained with an MFA in theater from USC, he has over 130 full-length audiobooks to his credit and over 5,000 five-star reviews on Audible. He has recorded for Tantor, Hachette, Punch Audio, Bee Audio, and Audible Studios. His recording of Ruthless People hit #1 on the Audible romance bestseller list, and American Savages was a finalist for the Sultry Listener's Award. Recording LGBT material as ""Joel Leslie,"" he was awarded Narrator of the Year 2017 and Audiobook of the Year 2017 by Sinfullymmbookreviews. When not recording, Joel is often chasing two loquacious wiener dogs who delight in preventing him from recording."

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available