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Brass Diva
The Life and Legends of Ethel Merman
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Brass Diva
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Broadway star Ethel Merman's voice was a mesmerizing force and her vitality was legendary. This detailed biography tells the story of how the stenographer from Queens, New York, became the queen of the Broadway musical in its golden age.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
Broadway star Ethel Merman's voice was a mesmerising force and her vitality was legendary, yet the popular perception of La Merm as the irrepressible wonder falls far short of all that she was and all that she meant to Americans over so many decades. This marvellously detailed biography is the first to tell the full story of how the stenographer from Queens, New York, became the queen of the Broadway musical in its golden age.
Mining official and unofficial sources, including interviews with Merman's family and her personal scrapbooks, Caryl Flinn unearths new details of Merman's life and finds that behind the high-octane personality was a remarkably pragmatic woman who never lost sight of her roots.
Brass Diva takes us from Merman's working-class beginnings through the extraordinary career that was launched in 1930 when, playing a secondary role in a Gershwin Brothers' show, she became an overnight sensation singing "I Got Rhythm." From there, we follow Merman's hits on Broadway, her uneven successes in Hollywood, and her afterlife as a beloved camp icon.
This definitive work on the phenomenon that was Ethel Merman is also the first to thoroughly explore her robust influence on American popular culture.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Brass Diva by Caryl Flinn is praised for its well-crafted and insightful portrayal, appealing to musical theatre aficionados and those who appreciate sharp wit. The biography is commended for its detailed analysis of Merman's performances across various media, offering theatre enthusiasts a sophisticated examination of her work.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780520260221
Publisher: University of California Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 25 February 2009
Country: United States
Imprint: University of California Press
Illustration: 50 b-w photographs
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 33.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 726g
Pages: 560
About the Author
Caryl Flinn lives and works in Tucson, where she is a Professor at the University of Arizona. She is the author of The New German Cinema: Music, History and the Matter of Style (UC Press), Strains of Utopia, and Music and Cinema (co-edited with James Buhler and David Neumeyer).
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