Dance Books

I love, love, LOVE this play.

It is wrought with the same care and cleverness of the Bard Himself. It is a Cinderella story with a feminist twist, with oodles of authentic Shakespeare woven right in. It borrows from the best of Shakespeare's comedy, complete with a breeches role.

Every single character is absolutely hilarious and drawn with a deft hand.

Fabulous.

I love this play! I would love to have my students perform it, but alas there are one or two pages that are a little too suggestive for the innocents in our cohort.
I actually enjoyed this play more than I enjoyed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. It is witty and clever with just enough tongue-in-cheek.

Two reviewers from HS drama clubs, and one comparison to Japanese anime. Don't let that mislead you into thinking this is some lightweight juvenile fluff. It is more in the line of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. As someone who has loved reading and watching Shakespeare's plays for over 35 years, I am delighted to see Ann-Marie MacDonald not only play with Shakespeare but do it intelligently. Amidst the linguistic and theatric whimsey there are some true and serious observations and the best explanation yet of why some characters in Shakespeare's tragedys are such idiots. Who says learning can't be great fun?

Just finished a production of this at our school - absolutely halarious. Very, very much recommended for high school theater. Absolutely great

"Goodnight, Desdemona (Good Morning, Juliet)" is the funniest play I have ever read or seen. I am currently playing Constance in a high school production of the play, and the more we go along, the more we discover about the play. Upon first reading, it is an absolutely hilarious twist of Shakespeare's "Othello" and "Romeo and Juliet." But reading it a second, and even a third time will reveal subtle innuendos and wordings (warning: LOTS of sexual innuendos in this play!) that contain so much wit and humour that your respect for Anne-Marie MacDonald will grow with every scene. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you can familiarize yourself with the plots of both "Othello" and "Romeo and Juliet" before reading or seeing the play, then your enjoyment will increase, because you will have a basic understanding of how the characters have been re-interpreted. OH MY GOODNESS -- READ THIS PLAY!

This is my favourite book on singing, and I have a few hundreds. I've been waiting for years for an updating that hasn't happened. Still I don't know a better survey of the vocal art on records from the invetion of the 78 r.p.m. until the early seventies, date of the first edition. A magnificent and unique book, the best of Steane, a scholar and a lover of the art of singing with a beautiful writing style. I wouldn't sell my copy for anything.

Part 1: The Golden Legend, Pre-Electrical Recording 1900-1925
The Old Order: Nineteenth-Century Echoes (Adelina Patti, Francesco Tamagno, Lilli Lehmann)
The Golden Age: Five Great Singers (Nellie Melba, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Fernando de Lucia, Mattia Battistine, Pol Plancon)
New Times, New Gods: The Changing Opera (Enrico Caruso, Titta Ruffo)
Good Deeds in a Naughty World: Lyricism Resistant (Lucrezia Bori, Alma Gluck, John McCormack, Alessandro Bonci, Giuesppe de Luca)
Coloratura: The Soprano as Virtuoso (Marcella Sembrich, Luisa Tetrazzine, Amelita Galli-Curci, Frieda Hempel, Selma Kurz, Margarethe Siems)
Approach to Wagner: Questions of Balance (emmy Destinn, Johanna Gadski, Jacques Urlus, Hermann Jadlowker)
Eastern Europe: A Cultural Exchange (Olimpia Boronat, Antonina Neshdanva, Dmitri Smirnoff, Feodor Chaliapin, Leff Sibiriakoff)
France: Years of Plenty (Emma Calve, Edmond Clement, Leon Escalais, Maurice Renard, Marcel Journet)
America: Talent and Training (Emma Eames, Geraldine Farrar, Frances Alda)
Italy: Bel Canto con Forza (Celestina Boninsegna, Salomea Krusceniski, Giuseppe Anselmi, Riccardo Stracciari, Pasquale Amato)
Part II: Decline and Survival, The Electrical 78 1925-1950

Decline: New Talents and Lost Discipline (Lily Pons, Aureliano Pertile)
Italy: A Handful of Exceptions (Toti dal Monte, Hina Spani, Tito Schipa, Benjamine Gigli, Renato Zanelli)
Around Italy: A Second Harvest (Lina Pagliughi, Magda Olivero, Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, Mariano Stabile, Tancredi Pasero)
Germany and Austria: Keepers of the Seal (Maria Ivogun, Meta Seinemeyer, Sigrid Onegin, Richard Tauber, Heinrich Schlusnus)
Lieder: More than Singing (Elisabeth Schumann, Lotte Lehmann, Elena Gerhardt, Karl Erb, herbert Janssen, Gerhard Husch, Alexander Kipnis)
Wagner: The Triumph of Lyricism (Frida Leider, Lauritz Melchior, Friedrich Schorr)
Splendid Isolationists: Standards in Britain and France (Florence Austral, Eva Turner, Claire Croiza, Ninon Vallin)

Old Worlds and New: Chicago and the Elevating Influence (Claudia Muzio, Dusolina Giannini, Conchita Supervia, Marian Anderson, Richard Crooks)
Metropolitan: Five Great Singers (Rosa Ponselle, Elisabeth Rethberg, Giovanni Martinelli, Lawrence Tibbett, Ezio Pinza)
Survival: Wartime and Aftermath (Helen Traubel, Maggie Teyte, Kathleen Ferrier, Julius Patzak, Mark Reizen)
Part III: Renaissance, The Long Plaing Record 1950-1970

Wagner: Every Note, Every Word (Kirsten Flagstad, Birgit Nilsson, Wolfgang Windgassen, Hans Hotter, Gottlob Frick)
Trial by Mozart: Vintage Soprano (Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Irmgard Seefried, Lisa della Casa, Hilde Guden, Ljuba Welitsch, Sena Jurinac)
Opera at Home: Five Great Singers (Maria Callas, Victoria de los Angeles, Jussi Bjorling, Tito Gobbi, Boris Christoff)
Let the Florid Music Praise: Rococo Revival (Joan Sutherland, Beverly Sills, Anna Moffo, Teresa Berganza, Marilyn Horne)
America: The Seal Goes West (Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett, Grace Bumbry, Jon Vickers, James McCracken, Richard Tucker, Robert Merrill)
Italy: A Tale of Two Tableaux (Renata Tebaldi, Mirella Freni, Giulietta Simionato, Fiorenza Cossotto, Franco Corelli, Carlo Bergonzi, Giuseppe di Stefano, Luciano Pavarotti)
European Notes: Moscow to Madrid (Regine Crespin, Rita Gorr, Irene Arkhipova, Nicolai Gedda, Geraint Evans)
Singer and Song: An Exhibition of Artists (Janet Baker, Christa Ludwig, Peter Pears, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gerard Souzay)

Ancient and Modern: The Singer as Musician
1971: Present and Prospective (Montserrat Caballe, Gundula Janowitz, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Ghiaurov
Conclusions: The Grand Tradition

Index of Composers

General Index

Bibliographical Note

The pictures are of the singers mentioned above.

I am saddened that this book is OP though perhaps a reprint is in the works. JBS from Gramaphone takes us on a tour of the history of recorded opera and lieder singing. His knowledge and enthusiasm lead me into a world of singing that I scarcely knew existed. His lucid style and comprehensive take on the records have had me buying and enjoying scores of CD's as an entire era has opened for me. I can't thank him enough for guiding me through the thicket of various recordings and providing insights that have deepened my understanding and enjoyment of singing. This exciting history has been a bedside favorite for years and I still turn to it when I see a new historical issue. Though the book covers singing up to more recent years, I may never make it to the 50's! Though the book could stand updating for current CD issues, it's not hard to translate dates of recordings to current issues. A tremendous acheivement. I could only wish for more, though I get that in his long running column in Gramaphone.

Anyone interested in opera and singing would appreciate this book. Steane is one of the greatest listeners around, and reading (and re-reading) his insights on these singers will make you a better listener too.

This is a book that can't be adequately praised enough. For anyone who has shelves of recordings, especially of opera singers of the pre-WW2 era, this insightful writer has an uncanny way of describing the merits of each singer, especially given the aural limitations of the old recordings, and in describing certain phrases or certain colors at the singer's disposal, makes one run for the actual selection, and listen to it with new ears. It's also exciting to hear his reasons for praising a certain singer and to hear him articulate so brilliantly what it is about a certain artist that, in his opinion, makes them cherishable. For instance, I've tried to explain what it is about Tito Schipa and Lotte Lehmann that moves me to tears, and here in this book are ample descriptions and commentaries.

Especially interesting is the chapter about individual arias, for which he suggests up to 6 recordings by various artists to use as comparison, phrase by phrase, and sometimes note by note!

For a lover of great singing, and a student of the history of singing, this book is literally priceless.

Few writers are adept at recording colloquial dialogue (ordinary speech for a place), but GREEN MILE screenwriter and director Frank Darabont is not one of those writers. He's good at this. Real good. These examples illustrate my point:

· "Billy the Kid," scourge of the earth, says, "Niggers oughtta have they own 'lectric chair. White men oughtn't havta sit in no nigger 'lectric chair, nossir...

· Eduard Delacroix, Cajun, says, "Yeah, you take 'em, John. Take him til' dis foolishment done -- bien! After, you take him down to Florida? To dat Mouseville?"

· John Coffey, gentle, African American, says, "He kill 'em with they love. They love for each other. You see how it is? That's how it is ever' day. That's how it is all over the worl'."

Every character in Darabont's screenplay is defined through his/her speech, although not as obviously as these three. I suggest writers study his techniques and apply them to their own writing.

Note: Reading this screenplay is like experiencing the movie from the inside out, an adventure, fo' sure.

I bought this book after I saw the movie. The main reason is because this film touched me deeply. Secondly I collect screen plays. This is a true gem! The film's beauty is printed as an unforgettable story. Screen play is based on Novel series by Stephen King. Excellent screen play!!

I am amazed at the genius of Frank Darabont. SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is the type of film that many directors spend their entire lives trying to make. That film alone is worthy of placing Darabont in the top echelon of modern directors. However, with THE GREEN MILE, Darabont has triumphed again. This screenplay is not as in depth as the SHAWSHANK shooting script. Nevertheless, it is still quite informative and is a useful resource for aspiring filmmakers. Transcribing an already successful published work into a successful movie is extremely difficult and rarely happens. However, Darabont has done it twice. A person can learn a great deal about writing just by reading this book. There's no better way to learn than to learn from a master.

With "The Green Mile: The Screenplay", writer-director Frank Darabont provides would-be screenwriters with an unprecedented look at how a perfect screen adaptation is written. Stephen King, author of the novel on which the film is based, has called Darabont's screenplay "hands-down, the best film adaptation I've ever read." Tom Hanks, the film's star, said of the screenplay, "It's that rarest thing, that thing you're always looking for, this piece of work that shows up on your desk, ready to shoot, and you look at it and say, 'Wow! We just have to show up and make this thing!'" In most situations, directors come to actors hat in hand, begging actors to work on a film. With "The Green Mile", Darabont had actors lining up to work in the film. Even actors of the stature of Gary Sinise were willing to take virtual cameos to appear in the film. The book contains Darabont's final shooting script, which even in that form, contains minor differences from the finished film. It also features introductions by Stephen King and Darabont, as well as a selection of stills and storyboards which give readers added insight into the production of what is easily this year's best film. Although lacking the in-depth analysis of changes in the screenplay which were present in Darabont's last book, "The Shawshank Redemption: The Shooting Script", this book is well worth reading, and, in copanionship with the forthcoming "The Making of 'The Green Mile'", will give readers a guided tour of the production of a modern film classic.

I discovered the first episodes of The Green Mile in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the last ones in France. I read them. I was moved by strong emotions, practically to tears, and yet I remained unsatisfied. I reread it when it came out in one volume, and I had the same sensation of frustration. The book, the story had two lines and the unity was not clear, the message was not obvious and it seemed to be that there is always a devil somewhere to torture, at times to death, the righteous and the innocent. The two time lines were not really reinforcing each other. The bad nurse of the old people's home was not a real continuation of Percy, and Percy did not have and could not have, does not have and cannot have a continuation. Evil in man is repetitive, but in no way continuing, developing, getting any kind of amplification with time. I have just been listening to a tape about the psychiatric hospitals of the old days (up to the mid 70s in France), and the doctors, the nurses, and even the patients, those who dedicated their whole life to get rid of that institution, compared these asylums to concentration camps and demonstrated how the inmates were reduced to animals, and yet resisting, how the rations (during World War II) where starvation rations meant to slowly kill the inmates by starving them. Doctor Lucien Bonnafé, MD, cannot be in any way stopped in his explanation of this alienation, of this reduction of men to vegetables, especially with the chemical straight jacket. Hitler did not invent concentration camps, and he did not invent eugenics, the cleansing of society of their misfits. He just systematised, industrialised it. But, But, BUT, I finally got to the screenplay of The Green Mile by Frank Darabont. He got that second time line out. He recentered the whole story on Paul, the only one Paul that crosses time. And then the light came out so strong that I was not moved any more, but literally blinded into ever stronger and never before experienced emotions, into unquenchable tears, tears that were a salvation, a redemption, an epiphany that would not ever satisfy and quench my thirst for optimistic humanism. This human world contains angels that can transform evil into good, and it is John Coffey, a black man. He has done that for a very long time, till the one day he gets trapped by his naivete and simplemindedness, because angels are naive, simpleminded and maybe slightly retarded, since then cannot conceive evil. When one does only good things and can only bring good news to the world, he is totally isolated, rejected, and thus he becomes the prey of all evil beings who will abuse him and trampled him down. And yet he is not completely trapped, because he comes to the point when he wants to go, to leave this world, where he can only love and be loved by fireflies. So he is happy when he gets trapped, relieved of this enormous responsibility of making the world better, of killing or repairing evil. Even if it means Death Row. But, before leaving, he gives his good nature to some other beings, even if he cannot give them his powers. Here it is a mouse, Mr Jingles, and a man, Paul. And his gift takes the form of a very long life. The very long life of telling the truth, the truth of God, the truth that killing is ugly, no matter whether it is criminal or judicial. Only life is beautiful, and the story of life has to be told forever and ever, to push death away, even if it is Death Row. This life story has to be told over and over again, just like a mouse will play with a spool forever. And thus, Darabont gets us to a universal lesson, to a unique and eternal metaphor. The writer, the storyteller is forever the one who will bring life to earth, real life, the life of justice, of beauty, of emotions, of truth, of entertainment, of happiness. The storyteller is God himself, or at least his angel, because he nourishes our souls with the desire to know a better world. When are we ever going to have the film, the video, so that we can be moved to frantic tears by the images that will demultiply the screenplay into a real piece of human paradise, in our dreams, in our night, in our daydream, in our sunshine of hope ?

I picked up this book at the recommendation of another friend who's also been in bands and is an excellent musician. After playing in a number of bands I can honestly say that everything this guy writes is true. I'd swear Will played in one of my bands in the past. I really liked the musicians he traveled around to hang out with. I walked with Will and knew all the other musicians he's hung with. Great book - how being a musician really is!

This is the story of a man in his 30s that decides to learn how to play guitar and sets the goal of playing a gig within six months. The author's quest leads him to a number of characters, most of them eccentric if not downright weird. He even takes a junket to the Mississippi Delta to learn about the roots of the blues, a visit to Nashville and Memphis and a trip to see Les Paul perform in NYC.

While the story has its merits I think that the author spent too much time describing drug use and other behaviors that many guitarists (myself included) feel are negative stereotypes which leave the false impression that all guitarists use illegal drugs or drink to excess. A lot of musicians use drugs and drink like fish but there are just as many of us out there that do not. This book would have been every bit as interesting to me without the drug stories.

In any event, the book ends shortly after the gig; which went well, all things considered. At the end of it all Mr. Hodgkinson realizes that his dream of performing in a band was only one tentative step forward in his development as a musician and songwriter and he proceeds to work towards correcting bad habits that he picked up in his rush to learn the guitar on the fast track.

Overall it was a satisfying read and very accurately conveyed the hopes, misconceptions and dreams of guitar students everywhere. The sensation was not unlike talking to a student guitarist that was enthusiastic, idealistic and a trifle over-optimistic; like many guitar students I've met.

As a 40+ wannabe guitarist I finally picked up an acoustic guitar and tried to learn after 20 years of 'thinking about it'. A few months in I literally stumbled across this book in a shop whilst looking for some music so that I could finally answer the question being asked of me, "When are you going to learn to play a real song on that thing?". This book had me glued from start to finish and I am now all fired up again! I am shamed to admit that I had never even heard of the great Davey Graham and many of the other characters that so shaped the guitar.

As earlier reviewers have said, the premise of the book sounds a little cheesey, and perhaps suggestive of an unlikely film script, 'untalented latecomer goes on quest and finds hidden guitar skills on the way', but this book is much more than that. It provides a superb potted history of the guitar from a UK/US blues-folk-rock perspective whilst the main protagonist is honing his new found skills. I found it inspiring. Sure, Will Hodgkinson isn't your average Mr Joe Public, he seems to have indirect connections to several key players, which may be helped by his journalist background, and maybe some of his 'memories' are a little odd - he could only have been 5 or 6 years old when Marc Bolan died so can he really recall his TV appearances? And the coincidence with watching "The Servant" just after a night out with Davey Graham, artistic license perhaps? But, these very minor points aside, to all you ageing wannabe guitarists out there - read it, dust off the old guitar and get strumming!

Now 'all' I need to do now is find out how to play 'Anji'!

P.S Whilst researching on the Web it is interesting to note that Davey Graham is on his uppers again - if this is partly through this book and/or Will's article in the Guardian then this is great for all guitar fans!

GUITAR MAN: A SIX-STRING ODYSSEY, OR, YOU LOVE THAT GUITAR MORE THAN YOU LOVE ME comes from a 34-year-old who decides to play guitar even though he's tone deaf and has no rhythm. His quest to become a musician at a later age involves instruction from friends and guitar 'greats' alike, in the process revealing much about the music world's finest figures from PJ Harvey to the eccentric old bluesman T. Model Ford. His odyssey is more than autobiography: it charts the evolution of guitar, methods of playing, and more and takes readers along on a rollicking journey through the music world in the process. General-interest collections will love it; music libraries will find it a fine leisure reader's choice.

Though the premise sounds pat -- a bit like a book proposal: journalist with no musical training picks up guitar with the goal of playing a gig in six months, and then writing about it -- Guitar Man in fact blossoms into an enormously entertaining, and by the end, exciting story. Will Hodgkinson is a funny, charming, smart, ballsy, sympathetic guide to the world of guitar and guitar obsession. Plus he's got taste, too, and common sense, and his own peculiarly interesting (and peculiarly British, I suspect) ideas of what the guitar should be and how to go about learning to play it. For anyone who loves to play but isn't "professional," it's a fantastic lesson on why mistakes don't matter if your heart's in your fingers. And for American readers in particular, the book gives us the pleasure of encountering, in person or legend, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, our own Jackson C. Frank, as well as understanding that maybe Eric Clapton isn't god after all. Now I need to learn to play "Anji" -- and only regret that I can't hop on over to Bert Jansch's flat for an impromptu lesson.

Wow,Wow, I just finished reading this book and it is really an excellent book. First of all let me tell you a little about me, I am a senior who loves Jazz, The Harlem Renaissance, and history. This book brought all of the above subjects to light while telling the story of Hazel Scott. Like so many Americans, I knew of Ms. Scott, however; I was unaware of all of her contributions. Ms. Chilton does an excellent job of letting us know the real Hazel Scott.

This is the kind of book that can be used in an undergraduate or graduate class at any University. Ms. Chilton research is effective and it appears as if at times it is Ms. Scoot actually speaking.

This book has come on the scene at a real interesting time in our history. The fact that we have our first Black President is in real contrast with the kinds of experiences that Congressman Powell and Ms. Scott both experienced in their various careers. In fact, many students and average American citizens would really be shocked at what was going on in race relations 40 or 50 years ago. This book gives an illustrative account of race relations from the 40's up until Ms. Scott made her tranisiton in 1982.

This book will be gifts for my love ones who love to read.

Thank you,

Mrs. Beverly L. Jones

Hazel Scott's compelling story writtten by Karen Chilton captures you
immediately through adventure, extraordinary perseverance and
determination exhibited by the female characters. Karen has woven this
narrative of history, culture, gender and explicitly demonstrates how a
black woman was brave, courageous and determined to fight for her ideals
and beliefs. Hazel Scott endures pain and obstacles, yet remained
steadfast and purposeful exhibiting her talent as a child prodigy,
an unselfish wife, a devoted mother and a fierce civil rights fighter.
Karen Chilton weaves the threads that will conquer the attention,
applause and vicarious experiences with an anticipation that keeps you
reading and wishing for more as the story concludes. Book clubs will be able to have enlightening, meaningful chats after reading "Hazel Scott, The Pioneering Journey of a Jazz Pianist from Cafe Society to Hollywood to HUAC". A must read!

Just finished 'HAZEL' and I LOVED IT! Celebrity bios are my favorite literary genre and this is amongst the best I've ever read. Thanks to Karen's awesomely descriptive way with words, I feel like I've been on a fantastic journey through infinite possibilities and the pitfalls that come with them (especially during the time in which Hazel Scott reigned supreme). What HIGHs and LOWs - all at once. Sounds like my own life sometimes and yet I know the core to Hazel's essence is RESILLIENCE... and Karen tangibly outlined the depths of her FIERCENESS --- to perfection. This book should have a long-shelf-life to ensure that the millions who are into DIVAS know on whose shoulders they stand in large order. I've blogged about it a couple of times via "A DAY IN THE LIFE OF RILEY: POP CULTURE & POSSIBILITIES":[...]

Karen Chilton has masterfully written a book that has fused a genre of jazz and African American history. Moreover, Karen complements the story of her subject (Hazel Scott) by demonstrating scholarly prowess as writer. The book supplies the reader with necessary factual background to understand Scott's story, as well as supplying appropriate references to a variety of external primary and secondary sources. In sum, this is the kind of book that requires the reader to maintain several bookmarks at once for ready reference: one to keep one's place in the text, another to reminisce of a time of creativity, joy, and passion in the midst of racism, segregation, and upheaval, and a final one to mark the notes/bibliography. A must read for everyone, and gratefulness to Karen Chilton for resurrecting another African American icon.

Quite a pleasant surprise, could not put the book down. Historically accurate yet entertaining. Wonderfully written with abundant wit and humor. Compelling yet complicated story of this female Jazz Pianist.

A good book, helped me to re-exam my heart why I worship God and how I worship.

This quick-read is an excellent choice for new worship leaders and a good shot in the arm for veterans. Matt Redman compiled short columns from the world's leading worship leaders, Christian songwriters & musicians, so there's a wealth of info here. Each essay falls into one of five categories: Searching the Psalms; Songwriting; Theology of Worship; Creative Insight; and Practical Worship Leading. The compact size also makes this book a nice gift choice.

I'm using this great little book for a youth worship team devotional. Each of the entries are 2-4 short pages, with insightful perspectives on interesting topics from a variety of well known worship leaders. I've bought 6 copies for my team and it's been well worth the investment.

Brilliant book! I realy found it inspiring. A good follow up to it is Nigel Viles 'Wiltshire Rambles' book.
Matt approaches worship like Jeremy Beadle approaches a slight mishap caught on camera, possibly involving a custard pie.
A brilliant read!

This book is a great resource for worship leaders, both youth and adult. I have a group of youth leading our praise band and we use it as a devotion after every practice. Each chapter has a simple message and is short enough to keep one's attention. It has tremendous insight into what leading worship is all about.

Hillary Duff does rock and this book does so aswell rock, i am a huge fan of Hillary Duff, and this is the best book ever written about her. It's easy to read too.

There have been many biographies about Hilary Duff lately, and I must say that this one is very good. It doesn't exactly dive into the depths of her life too much (it does give you some basic autobiographical information, however), but there is a lot of great information about her movies, singing, album, and possible future. Plus, there are tons of great-looking glossy photographs that will satisfy any devoted Hilary Duff fan. The style is sophisticated and written well, but not in an annoying teenybopper-ish way. Whether you're a huge fan or just want to read more about Hilary with some good pictures, this is a fabulous book.

I am A HUGE-------- Hilary Fan and I love this book!!!!!It has great pictures and accuate facts and it is just great I Love it and trust me it makes a great gift for any Hil fan!!! :)

This book is absolutely rocks! The cover is the coolest picture I have ever seen of Hil! I wish there was a way to buy a print of the cover as a poster. I have Hilary Duff's 2005 calendar, which has some rad pictures, but this cover shot totally rules. Great book and lots of awesome photos.

this book is a must have for all hilary duff fans. it is really good and gives you loads of information. it is great for all ages and i love the front cover.

What a story!Forget about owning a National guitar, just enjoy the skulduggery and the ups and downs of the honest immigrant genius of the brothers Dopyera versus the opportunist performer and the millionaire playboy investor. If you are so very fortunate to own a National instrument then you can trace its origin and help to maintain it for future generations using this book. The photography is stunning too and Bob has raided the archives for some fascinating publicity material. Apart from quite a few typos (which add to the home-spun charm) this has to be the book for every resonator player and was obviously a labour of love for Mr Brozman.

Bob Brozman is a great player, a great expert and collector of vintage National resophonic instruments, and overall a great man. This book spreads light on the history of National guitars, with a very detailed story of the Dopyera Brothers (founders of the National company). The numerous photos are beautiful and make you wish you own those splendid instruments - actually pieces of true art.
Also the wide section on blues and hawaiian National players is absolutely interesting.
A MUST for every lover of acoustic music and of guitars.

This book is the standard by which all or any others will be judged. Every aspect of the National resonator guitar world is comprehensively covered in detail. The book starts with the history of the Dopyera family emigrating from Hungary and setting up a musical instrument repair business in L.A.
There follows a very detailed family history covering what each of the family members of the next two generations did, including family feuds.
The history concludes with a chapter on the current owners.
After the formation of the National Guitar Co. we get a comprehensive discussion of its history including detailed early drawings of prototypes of guitars etc. and copies of the patent plans submitted. Every model of instrument made by the company is discussed in detail with reference to the different materials used and the various levels of decoration etc.
A qite sizeable section of the book deals with a number of National and Dobro players including Sol Hoopi,Tampa Red,Son House,Blind Boy Fuller et.al.. The book finishes off with a chapter of prints of early catalogues and advertisements which are fascinating for their historical content. There is also a discussion in the book of setting up the guitars and maintenance etc.
The book is a must for anyone interested in the behind the scenes development of National Guitars. My only criticism is of the section of colour plates contained in the book. While the photographs of the instruments cover a very large range and show the exquisite detail of the decoration on some very rare models,the photos mostly have a dark background that makes them feel oppressive and slightly indistinct. Having said that, the collection of instruments photographed is outstanding;very early tricones,mandolins,tenor guitars,ukes etc.
For anyone interested in the history of or looking at National Guitars
and other instruments this book is indispensible.

This book presents a fascinating history of the development and production of National Resonators and a comprehensive catalogue of vintage instruments. Brozman, in addition to being a spectacular player, is a fine writer. That this is a labor of love is readily apparent in his writing and the obvious effort he has expended in researching the subject. The prose is supported amply by numerous black and white photographs and the color plates of vintage Nationals are spectacular.
The only complaint I can offer is that it barely touches on the rebirth of the National company, a significant development especially in light of the high quality instruments they are currently producing. Hopefully this will be addressed in a subsequent edition.

Bob's book gives a great insight into who actually researched, tested, and invented the instruments, where and how they were manufactured and sold, and who played them (blues, jazz, and Hawaiian musicians) the sound and music is terrific. What is really amazing is the craftsmanship of the old world engravers, I would love to own an original Tricone IV or Single Cone IV. This book introduced me to a new side of acoustic music I was not aware of, the readers of this book would do well to purchase Tone Poems III, Vintage Slide and Resonator Instruments played by three gifted musicians, David Grisman, Mike Auldridge, the Bob Brozman, the author of this book.

Fans of Sandy Schreier's excellent "Hollywood Dressed and Undressed" will be delighted with her most recent book, as will people who are interested in wedding fashion and movie costumes. Following the format of her previous book, Schreier concentrates on finding and providing outstanding photographs of Hollywood wedding dresses and marriage scenes, whether classic or modern, comedic or dramatic, elegant or even slightly frumpish, and also includes photos and anecdotes about real-life weddings involving Hollywood celebrities. High-quality, oversized paperback format provides a good stage for the pictures, many full-page and in both black and white and color. Heartily recommended.

This book happened to be published at a time when several of my friends were getting married and it makes an excellent bridal shower gift for the friend who loves old movies. This book is similar in set up to Schreier's other great book "Hollywood Dressed & Undressed" in that there are photos of movies with a bit of text and director and costuming credits. It is a simple set up, but it lets you view the fabulous wedding scenes in films through the years, such as "Haystacks and Steeples" (1916) or "Show People" (1928) up to newer films like "Where The Heart Is" (2000) or "Runaway Bride" (1999). Scattered throughout are photos of real celebrity weddings such as that of Norma Shearer and Irving Thalberg (1927) or Shirley Temple and John Agar (1945). Great book by this great fashion historian who owns the largest private collection of 20th century couture!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories and studying the pictures. Hollywood Gets Married focuses on a very important aspect of the movies and movie stars-weddings and all the trappings that go with getting married and unmarried. You can enjoy the beautiful pictures of brides, but all along you know that the real stories are what happens to the people, both as film characters and in real life.
If you are a film buff, get this book. Its focus on Hollywood weddings is lively and informative. If you love movies, you will love the book.

Sandy Schreier's "Hollywood Gets Married" is a delectable bon-bon of a book, and great reading for anyone who is either starstruck or interested in movie costume design. She admits in her foreword to being subject to those twin little girls dreams of a) being a movie star and b) being a bride, and her infectious enthusiasm for both subjects comes across brilliantly here.

Schreier offers us a delightful overview of Hollywood weddings here, with everything from silent films to modern-day set pieces to real-life Hollywood brides in both their Hollywood and their personal incarnations as brides. As you might expect, there are some omissions here (what, no Liza Minnelli? No Cher? No Lucille Ball? No Jane Fonda?), but for the most part, Schreier does a super job of hitting high points of Hollywood wedding lore including, of course, the much-married Elizabeth Taylor (who graces the front cover of the book and gets her own special section inside).

Aside from the terrific photographs--many of which I'd never seen, and I own entirely too many movie-oriented books--the eye candy is more than matched by the many anecdotes, like:

1) Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy's bridal gown designer was African-American;
2) "Bride of Frankenstein" actress Elsa Lanchester's bridal hairdo in the film was inspired by ancient profiles of Egyptian queen Nefertiti;
3) Olivia de Havilland kept her Dior costumes from the 1962 bridal picture "Light in the Piazza" and when she sold them later at auction, the successful bidder was the House of Dior, buying them for their collection;
4) Marilyn Monroe's gown from her first marriage (at age sixteen in 1942) was later worn, sans sleeves, by Monroe's niece on her first date.

This is a wonderful book and reading it is a completely pleasant way to spend an hour or two.

Hollywood Gets Married put a huge smile on my face! It's so exciting reading through all the funny antetodes and trust me, the Hollywood pictures are GREAT. I had read Hollywood Dressed & Undressed - Schreier's previous book - which I loved by the way, but this one I think is even better!

If you're a fan of Hollywood then you need to be a fan of Schreier's - buy the book.

Very good collection of African American writting. I enjoyed it.

This book has been the "Hit" of several recent book parties in The San Francisco East Bay and South Bay Areas. Dr. Dance's book evokes memories of Black humor we rarely are exposed to anymore. These anthologies are the best I have read in years. We can still laugh at ourselves and love the humor in the antidotes.

This books is off the charts! Ive been reading for a long time, and this book just encompasses so much for the African American experience. My favorite parts of each chapter are the anecdotes and sayings found at the end of each respectively. Purchase this book and pass it on other everyone you know who needs a laugh!

This is by far the greatest anthology that I have ever laid eyes on. It was very well put together!

This is an enormously funny, if often slightly risque, anthology. I took it to the office, and my African American fellow workers can't put it down. Ever since I brought it in, periodically there are howls of laughter from around the building. And several of them have told me that they have heard some of these stories and sayings from their own relatives and friends. Highly recommended!