Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand - Softcover

Mann, William J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0544104463 ISBN 13: 9780544104464

Publisher: Mariner Books, 2013

Synopsis

"Barbra Streisand's story may be the most triumphant case of revenge in show business history . . . Mann vividly evokes the atmosphere of Streisand's New York."--New York Times

In 1960, Barbra Streisand was just a seventeen-year-old Brooklyn kid with plenty of talent but no connections and certainly no money; her mother brought her soup to make sure she stayed fed as she took acting classes and scraped out a living. Just four years later, she was the top-selling female recording artist in America and the star of one of Broadway's biggest hits. In Hello, Gorgeous, the acclaimed Hollywood biographer William Mann chronicles that dizzying ascent, telling the riveting behind-the-scenes story of how Streisand and her team transformed her from an unknown dreamer into one of the world's most beloved superstars.

"Trying to figure out the Barbra Streisand mystique is no easy task, but author William Mann expertly captures the launch of her remarkable career in the early 1960s when a unique 'star was born' . . . Mann's meticulous research and insightful analysis go deeper than any previous biography: shedding light on the formative years that shaped Streisand's persona, debunking some myths . . . and providing a cultural snapshot of the wild and free-spirited era in which Streisand blossomed."--USA Today

"In his masterful book, Mann captures one of the most fully realized pictures of the multi-hyphenate superstar to date . . . Many books have been written about Streisand but few, if any, put readers as close to the subject as Mann does."--Miami Herald

About this title

Review:

"Trying to figure out the Barbra Streisand mystique is no easy task, but Mann expertly captures the launch of her remarkable career in the early 1960s when a unique 'star was born.' Mann's meticulous research and insightful analysis go deeper than any previous biography..."--USA TODAY

"[An] excellent new work...One can only put down Hello, Gorgeous with renewed appreciation for Barbra's single-mindedness, and with some glimpse of her inner struggle."-Liz Smith, syndicated columnist

"[A] surprisingly suspenseful and masterfully paced biography."--Kirkus (starred)

"Streisand fans will come away feeling they've had a ringside seat at her early career, and they will leave the show applauding."--Booklist

"A compelling, detailed look at the rise of the multitalented Streisand from 17-year-old unknown to chart-topping singer and Broadway star. Highly recommended for fans of Streisand, biographies, and theater."--Library Journal

"Combining extensive interviews (some anonymous) and exhaustive archival research, Mann balances intimate personal details with audience reactions and critical acclaim to etch an indelible portrait of the artist as a young woman."--Publishers Weekly

"...[I]n his masterful Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand, he [Mann] captures one of the most fully realized pictures of the multi-hyphenate superstar to date." -Howard Cohen, The Miami Herald

About the Author:

WILLIAM J. MANN is the author of Kate: The Woman Who Was Hepburn and How to Be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Taylor in Hollywood, as well as several other works of fiction and nonfiction.

About this edition

• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 0544104463
• ISBN 13: 9780544104464
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 566