John M. Clum

“challenging, but endlessly fascinating, as the reader follows Mamush’s geographical, mental, and spiritual journey. . . . a poignant and beautiful book.”

“an exciting, disturbing portrait of Hollywood’s cultural power during its heyday.” 

“Alex Espinosa has drawn rich, fascinating characters and offers a detailed picture of Mexico at a politically turbulent time and Los Angeles at key moments in its recent history.”

“In Mania, Shriver is not enlightening us with sharp satire; she is hitting us over the head with a baseball bat.”

“Ways and Means is an amazing debut novel from a prodigiously gifted young writer. . . . virtuosic storytelling.”

“The story is a fascinating one, filled with moments of excitement and flashes of humor . . .”

“While Idaho Slept is consistently absorbing, if frustrating in its lack of a conclusion.”

“Leading Lady is a breezy chronicle of Busch’s life and career, interspersed with anecdotes about his encounters with divas of the stage and screen.”

“Torres’ intricate web of narratives is gripping from beginning to end. His richly drawn characters are passionate . . .”

“Sebastian has a breezy style that keeps the reader interested.”

The canon of queer cinema has exploded over the past half-century. There are excellent films from all countries that allow such films to be made.

“Makkai’s elegant writing carries the reader along. . . . Excellent!”

Does the world need another book on Oscar Hammerstein II? Hugh Fordin’s Getting to Know Him is a solid biography.

“a must for every lover of ballet and admirer of Balanchine’s work.”

There have been many accounts of Cary Grant’s life and career, tracing his ascent from British music halls to American vaudeville to Broadway to a career of over three decades as one of Hollywood’s

“Butler offers a fascinating history that includes appraisals of the work of actors most associated with The Method.

“Greenland is another fine contribution to a growing canon of Black queer fiction.”

“Weir writes beautifully, elegantly.”

“In The Town of Babylon, Alejandro Varela, whose educational background is in public health, combines a social scientist’s powers of observation and analysis with a master writer’s

While recovering from a serious stroke in 1995, British author, critic, and editor Robert McCrum found that the only words that made sense to him were bits of Shakespeare.

“Selva Almada manages to get inside the minds of her characters.”

“Oscar Wilde: A Life is elegantly written . . . Dense with detail, it draws the reader into Wilde’s milieu.

Dominic Janes takes on a number of topics in this wide-ranging book, Freak to Chic.

“All the Water I’ve Seen Is Running is a worthy addition to the group of fine recent novels about gay men of color looking for their own sense of racial and ethnic identity as well

“Bath Haus is not just excellent gay fiction . . . absorbing and exciting . . .”

“Nava is an impassioned writer who has once again created a fascinating picture of Los Angeles at an earlier, less enlightened time, centering on gay men trying to shed the shame they have

“Mike Nichols: A Life is an invaluable contribution to the history of American theatre and film since World War II as well as a colorful portrait of one of its most celebrated and

“The Queering of Corporate America vividly recounts one of the more important narratives in the history of LGBTQ+ people in America.”

“What Were We Thinking will give you a fascinating overview and analysis of the books that explain where we are now, how we got here, and where we might be headed.”

“Memorial is a deeply moving book by a young novelist with a unique voice and a strong sense of optimism.”

The inspiration for Marjorie Garber’s interesting but ultimately frustrating book seems to be the political ascendancy of Donald Trump.

Between 1955 and 1989, legendary choreographer-dancer Martha Graham and her company made a series of international tours under the aegis of various government agencies and governm

“Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America is a must read for those who want to understand the media phenomenon now in the White House.”

“Daniel Mendelsohn fulfills his own criteria for good criticism. His erudition is always impressive, but one never feels that he is showing off.

“Elvis in Vegas is a must-read for fans of Elvis and for all who are interested in the history of popular entertainment in America.” 

“a fascinating, provocative book aimed at gay readers written in a pleasant, conversational style.”

“Weis’ book is particularly fascinating in offering a detailed picture of the place of the courtesan in 19th century Parisian social life.”

This is not the first book to be published on this subject (see for instance  Physics and the Art of Dance by Kenneth Laws and Arlene Sugano, or Laws’ earlier volume, The Physics of Da

English opera in the 1920s may seem to some an odd topic. What we now know as the Royal Opera did not begin until after World War II.

There have been two excellent, lengthy biographies of director-choreographer Jerome Robbins: Deborah Jowitt’s Jerome Robbins and Amanda Vaill’s Somewhere: A Life of Jerome Robbins

“[a] well-written memoir.”