Cole Porter

Well written and interesting book on an enigmatic figure. Service was fast and as promised.

WILLIAM McBRIEN has done it;he has given all the PORTER fans of this world the biography they were waiting for for thirty-four years.What this book gives us is an accurate account of the composer's life including his well known homosexuality, even if he married for respectability.PORTER's early years were quite different when compare with the other composers of his generation;he had a millionnaire grandfather and a rather aloof father with whom he didn't really communicate.He led a rather easy going life until he finally decided at the age of 37 to let his talent bloom on BROADWAY.There is considerable irony to the fact that from his riding accident in 1937,that man who had everything suffered a great deal until his death in 1964.You end up knowing what was this thing called love.

I very much agree with the reviewer from Sicily, but there is much more to this book. There is much F.Scott Fitzgerald, an era long about a time and place many of us have not experienced...It is society, alcohol, party, good friends, drugs, and sex---this time homosexual. It is all fun and games, good times, and famous people. Sometimes, however, it is best not to know the personal life as it may spoil the song, the movie, the performance...but if you rise above this, as I did, here is a very skillfully written book with much information, perhaps too much information, but fascinating nevertheless. I am sorry I never got to see him sing and play in person as he was a very talented man and helpful to many of his friends.

I'd managed to drag myself through about a quarter of "Last Train to Memphis" when Peter Guralnick droped yet another superfluous detail about a Memphis DJ (Pete, you already told us twice that Bob Neal did the noon "hillbilly" show) and I just couldn't take it no more. Away went the King and out came the incomparable Cole.Where Guralnick's bio is dense and chewy, William McBrien's treatment on the serious work of being Cole Porter is a melt-in-your-mouth delight. And not without sustenance. McBrien's business is to give analysis of Porter's lyrics through insights into the man's background, actions and relationships. And then comes a cornucopia of society gossip and backstage anecdotes. The juicy stories are not overdone, in fact I would have liked a few more as well as more pictures.A nonchalant reference to a love letter to another man is McBrien's introduction of Cole Porter's homosexuality. I thought I missed an earlier more formal reference. From there it is treated no more nor less seriously than his marriage, wealth or manners--a major factor in his life that molded his work. Porter's crippling riding accident is handled in the same fashion-a clear report uncluttered by romance or irony."Cole Porter" shows that it is possible to write a critical biography that weighs less than a toddler and is a real pleasure to read.