The private world of Leonard Bernstein

by John Gruen

"...Conductor of the nation's premier orchestra, the New York Philharmonic; composer of concert music and scores for the popular musical theater; virtuoso pianist...[in this book] Mr. Bernstein is seen as only few have been privileged to see him: offstage among his family and friends, working, playing, contemplating his origins, dealing with the hectic present, speculating about the future...[the] author spent a summer in Italy with the vacationing Bernsteins, then observed the amazingly crowded routines of their life in New York and Connecticut...[offers] an intimate, offstage view of Leonard bernstein, his family, and his friends. With a playlet, monologues, dialogues, reflections, revelations, and predictions. Leonard Bernstein talks with charm, humor, unsparing honesty, and total recall about the phenomenon of Leonard Bernstein..."--inside flaps.