Cole Porter A Biography

Cole Porter, urbane composer-lyricist of such hits as "Let's Fall in Love," "Night and Day," "Begin the Beguine," and others among the longest-lived ballads of our time, set new standards of invention and craftsmanship that changed popular songwriting permanently. His lavish life-style matched the sophistication and elegance of his songs. He was a leader of the glamorous international set of the fabulous twenties and thirties and remained an arbiter of fashion and taste throughout his life. This book is the first truly in-depth biography of the great songwriter. The author examines in the most intimate detail the myriad dimensions of Cole Porter's life and work, from his birth in a small Indiana town before the turn of the century to his days as an international celebrity. For this exciting new biography of Porter the author interviewed dozens of Porter's friends and relatives, and examined hundreds of personal documents, musical manuscripts, photographs, and memorabilia. The result is the most revealing, comprehensive, and objective study of the man to date, helping us to understand the creation of Porter's works, and showing what he was really like, including his unique relationship with his mother, his wife (Linda Lee Thomas), his friends Monty Woolley and Elsa Maxwell, and other key people in his life.