Fred Astaire
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
Few names in the history of entertainment carry the same effortless elegance as Fred Astaire — a man who transformed the Hollywood musical into an art form and redefined what it meant to move with grace on screen. Roy Pickard's Fred Astaire chronicles the remarkable life and career of this singular talent, tracing his journey from vaudeville stages to the glittering heights of Hollywood stardom, where he partnered with Ginger Rogers and captivated audiences across decades with an unmatched combination of precision, charm, and innovation. Pickard, a seasoned film historian, presents a richly detailed portrait that situates Astaire within the broader cultural landscape of 20th-century cinema, illustrating how one performer's relentless perfectionism and artistry raised the entire standard of the screen musical. Written with both authority and affection, the biography balances admiring analysis with rigorous factual grounding, drawing on Astaire's extensive filmography to argue that his legacy extends far beyond mere entertainment — it represents a philosophy of excellence. For anyone who has ever watched Astaire glide across a dance floor and wondered at the magic behind it, this volume promises to reveal the extraordinary discipline that made it all look so impossibly easy.
Author: Roy Pickard
Format: Hardback
Genre: Biography
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Worn/faded, no tears
Pages: Good
Few names in the history of entertainment carry the same effortless elegance as Fred Astaire — a man who transformed the Hollywood musical into an art form and redefined what it meant to move with grace on screen. Roy Pickard's Fred Astaire chronicles the remarkable life and career of this singular talent, tracing his journey from vaudeville stages to the glittering heights of Hollywood stardom, where he partnered with Ginger Rogers and captivated audiences across decades with an unmatched combination of precision, charm, and innovation. Pickard, a seasoned film historian, presents a richly detailed portrait that situates Astaire within the broader cultural landscape of 20th-century cinema, illustrating how one performer's relentless perfectionism and artistry raised the entire standard of the screen musical. Written with both authority and affection, the biography balances admiring analysis with rigorous factual grounding, drawing on Astaire's extensive filmography to argue that his legacy extends far beyond mere entertainment — it represents a philosophy of excellence. For anyone who has ever watched Astaire glide across a dance floor and wondered at the magic behind it, this volume promises to reveal the extraordinary discipline that made it all look so impossibly easy.