First published 2022
Harvey Fierstein opens his life to readers with startling honesty. The four-time Tony winner takes us from his childhood in 1952 Brooklyn through his rise to Broadway stardom. He shares intimate details about his personal relationships, romantic encounters, and private battles that even his closest friends haven't heard. Fierstein chronicles his journey from community theater to creating iconic works like Torch Song Trilogy, Hairspray, and Kinky Boots. He reveals his experiences in Andy Warhol's circle, the Theatre of the Ridiculous, and the front lines of gay rights activism. The memoir captures his struggles during the AIDS crisis, his battles with addiction, and his family's path to acceptance. Fierstein writes with the same distinctive voice that made him famous, mixing outrageous humor with raw vulnerability. His stories illuminate decades of downtown New York culture and theater history while revealing the wisdom and mistakes that shaped an extraordinary life.
Genres: autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, lgbt, gay
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-journey
Setting: Brooklyn, New York
Period: 1952, AIDS Crisis
386 pages · Hardcover · Knopf
Content warnings: addiction