by D. T. Max
First published 2022
D. T. Max approached Stephen Sondheim for what would become their final extended conversations. The New Yorker staff writer originally planned a profile timed to Sondheim's next musical premiere. Instead, he captured the composer-lyricist in an unusually candid mood during their sessions. Sondheim, known for avoiding publicity, opened up about his creative methods, his thoughts on aging, and his relationship with New York City. He discussed his family, his views on movies and music, and the sardonic observations that shaped his work. Max contextualizes each interview, describing Sondheim's demeanor and their evolving dynamic. The book preserves these unedited exchanges, presenting Sondheim without his typical public reserve. Readers witness an artist reflecting on decades of work that transformed American musical theater. The conversations reveal Sondheim's vulnerability alongside his sharp wit, offering access to a cultural figure who rarely granted such personal interviews.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, non-fiction, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-reflection
Setting: New York City
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
240 pages · Hardcover · Harper