72 replies to this topic

[Dale]

Croce's book on George Balanchine has a release date of April 1, 2004.

ISBN: 0374299889 - Farrar, Straus and Giroux

(I can't wait!)

[Farrell Fan]

Wow, this is exciting news. After waiting all these years, though, I'd feel a little better if the publication date were not April 1.  

[Dale]

There are supposed to be several books on Balanchine released to coincide with his centennial.  And I'm going to gobble them all up

[Mel Johnson]

Reminds me of the time some wag wrote a press release announcing an autobiography by J.D. Salinger with an introduction by Thomas Pynchon.  Release date:  April 1!

[Dale]

Mmmm, I can't see Arlene Croce doing an April Fools' joke.  And she has been working on this book for a long time.  But you never know....

[Mel Johnson]

I think it's probably for real, Dale.  Balanchine was never a recluse like Salinger, and to have an intro to his autobiography by the nearly-as-reclusive Pynchon was the tip with the April Fools' joke.

[dirac]

That's funny, Mel.  The only thing missing would be an announcement that Salinger and Pynchon would be appearing jointly on Oprah to publicize the book.

Farrar Straus and not Knopf?

[Alexandra]

Yes, it's Farrar Strauss (books often change publishers when editors leave, etc.)  It could be that the publisher intends for the book to be on the spring 2004 list, rather than a set in stone release date and may be subject to change.

[Ari]

Croce's book, Ballet and Balanchine, is now scheduled to be published in October.

[Farrell Fan]

It has a title! That's promising.

[Rachel Howard]

Thanks for the news, Ari!  Could you tell me the source for your information?  Thanks again.

[Ari]

I got the info from the publisher, Farrar Straus & Giroux.

[Rachel Howard]

Did you get it by speaking to someone at the company? I'm unable to find mention of the forthcoming book on the FSG website. Thanks.

[Herman Stevens]

Farrell Fan, on Jun 7 2004, 11:52 PM, said:

It has a title! That's promising.

Exept that Ballet and Balanchine is not a very good title. For one I'd prefer Balanchine and Ballet. And what I'd really want is Balanchine: A Life, in which, obviously, the ballets would be treated extensively. The current title however would indicate a book which perpetuates the notion that Balanchine's life was nothing but making up steps.

[Ari]

Rachel, it was the absence of any mention of the book on the company's website that prompted me to take further action.    I e-mailed the publisher and got a reply from one Sarah Almond in the editorial department.

Re the title:  yes, it strikes me as flat, too.  But to me it suggests that the scope of the book is wide-ranging:  not just a study of Balanchine's creations but a look at his whole impact on, and relation to, ballet.  One of the most exciting things about Croce's writing, after all, has always been her broad intellectual range.  And we knew that it wasn't going to be a biography.