
Mr. Rollyson is the author of The Life of William Faulkner and The Last Days of…
Even a great biography, such as the one Gerald Howard has written, leaves out aspects of a subject by dint of the narrative’s design.

Sometimes dismissed as merely the artist of nostalgia, Moses was so much more, re-creating the world she had lived in on the eve of dramatic transformation.

The author explains that his book is about biography itself, and why in the case of subjects like Leonardo, the urge to fill the gaps in knowledge about him is irresistible.

What distinguishes this literary biography is its perfect poise, telling us what we need to know about the man and his art, without pretending to explain more than a biographer can possibly know.

Biographies of screenwriter Mary McCall, actress Joan Crawford, and singer Helen Morgan illustrate some of the struggles behind all of the glitz and glamor.

If you can overlook language about ‘this broiling cauldron of cinematic creativity,’ you will learn a good deal about how Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder made prophetic films.


© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.
Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.