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of
1
Mel Brooks
Disobedient Jew
Series: Jewish Lives
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Mel Brooks
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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?
This book may appeal to you if you enjoy delving into the genius of comic legends and exploring the life of one of Hollywood's most iconic entertainers. With humour and insight, it captures the wit, resilience, and creativity of a man who has left an indelible mark on film and comedy history.
A spirited dive into the life and career of a performer, writer, and director who dominated twentieth-century American comedy
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
A spirited dive into the life and career of a performer, writer, and director who dominated twentieth-century American comedy
Mel Brooks, born Melvin Kaminsky in Brooklyn in 1926, is one of the great comic voices of the twentieth century. Having won almost every entertainment award there is, Brooks has straddled the line between outsider and insider, obedient and rebellious, throughout his career, making out-of-bounds comedy the American mainstream.
Jeremy Dauber argues that throughout Brooksโs extensive body of workโfrom Your Show of Shows to Blazing Saddles to Young Frankenstein to Spaceballsโthe comedian has seen the most success when he found a balance between his unflagging, subversive, manic energy and the constraints imposed by comedic partners, the Hollywood system, and American cultural mores. Dauber also explores how Brooksโs American Jewish humour went from being solely for niche audiences to an essential part of the American mainstream, paving the way for generations of Jewish (and other) comedians to come.
Series: Jewish Lives
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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?
Mel Brooks by Jeremy Dauber is praised for its insightful exploration of the comedian's life, blending elegance with sympathy. Reviewers note that Dauber captures Brooks's vibrant energy and iconoclastic nature, offering both entertainment and enlightenment. The biography is described as a fresh, cohesive look at Brooks's influence on culture, highlighting his Jewish identity's impact on his work.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780300244274
Publisher: Yale University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 28 March 2023
Country: United States
Imprint: Yale University Press
Illustration: 1 b-w illus.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 146.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 216
About the Author
Jeremy Dauber is a professor of Jewish literature and American studies at Columbia University. His books include Jewish Comedy and The Worlds of Sholem Aleichem, both finalists for the National Jewish Book Award, and, most recently, American Comics: A History. He lives in New York City.
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