On Streisand: An Opinionated Guide

From her Broadway debut in I Can Get It for You Wholesale to her Oscar-winning role in Funny Girl, Barbra Streisand has had a richly diverse career filled with comic and dramatic stage and screen roles as well as memorable hit recordings ("People," "The Way We Were"). Here, musical theater authority Mordden (When Broadway Went to Hollywood) begins with a short yet detailed biographical profile of the performer and an accompanying time line, intertwining her personal and professional journeys and giving context to the book's main focus: a project-by-project examination of her theater, television, film, concert, and recording work. Within each category, he explores Streisand's accomplishments chronologically, sharing a wealth of intensively researched background information, quotes, plot reviews, portions of illustrative dialogue, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. His analyses are well documented and incisive and his commentary witty and, as the subtitle suggests, often opinionated. Throughout, Mordden emphasizes Streisand's distinctive artistic style and independent personality. Well-chosen and thoughtfully captioned photographs enhance this comprehensive volume.