1 A Vagabond Soul
2 Hollywood Story
3 Xenia and Menia
4 Blood Brothers
5 Six Steps Exactly
6 Making Luck
7 Jazz, London
8 A Celestial Accident
9 The Beatnik and the Prince
10 The Horse Whisperer
11 Sacred v. Profane, East v. West
12 Wild Thing
13 Time to Crash the Gates
14 Camera Front, Camera Side
15 New Boy in Town
16 This Thing of Darkness
17 Pygmalion Diaghilev
18 Dancing with the Devil
19 A Circular Circle. Complete
20 A Fatality to Live
Illustrations
Source Notes
Bibliography
Illustration Credits
Acknowledgements
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To Ross for everything
‘Magnificent … This book is a definitive biography of a performing artist … It gives one not just an enormous admiration for the genius of Nureyev, but also a renewed respect and love for the art of dance’ Spectator
‘A major accomplishment, the definitive biography of a major artist. It is a big book in every respect – in its reach, in its scrupulous composition, in its detailed analysis, but particularly in its generosity of spirit. Kavanagh makes no attempt to whitewash the monstrous Nureyev. By the end we have encountered a most difficult man, but a man whose unique gifts raised him far above us all’ Brian Friel, Observer
‘Kavanagh is the ideal biographer for Rudolf Nureyev … She writes about dancing itself so vividly, without technical fuss, that the reader imagines actually seeing it’ Richard Sennett, Literary Review
‘A meticulously researched and judiciously argued study which, as a record of Nureyev’s career, will surely never be bettered’ Daily Mail
‘An engrossing study, sympathetic but clear-eyed … Kavanagh writes with authority, clarity and eloquence … true and honourable’ Clement Crisp, Financial Times
‘Impressive … reveals the narcissistic Russian ballet legend to be the prototype of modern celebrity’ Evening Standard
‘An exemplary modern biography, an “official” biography that is also a tell-all biography, of great significance as a prism through which to view the social, sexual, cultural and political history of the second half of the twentieth century, as well as being highly entertaining’ London Review of Books
‘A magnificent example of the old school of biography – a warts-and-all portrait of a flawed but intensely lovable human being who ranks as one of the great performing artists of the last century’ Rupert Christiansen, Spectator
‘Kavanagh writes thrillingly … with flair and abundance’ John Carey, Sunday Times
‘An exemplary piece of work … keeps the reader turning its pages even if sometimes in a trance of fascinated horror’ Irish Times
‘Julie Kavanagh’s knowledge of her subject and her expertise in ballet work together to evoke Nureyev’s every step’ Vogue
‘Kavanagh reveals Nureyev’s character, warts and all, as she charts his rise from rags to riches in minute but gripping detail’ Tatler
‘It’s unlikely that we’ll need another study of Rudolf Nureyev after Julie Kavanagh’s’ Daily Telegraph
‘Kavanagh’s definitive biography draws for the first time on private papers, diaries and home movie footage, to create a portrait of this extraordinary and troubled man … a fascinating read’ Daily Mail
‘Kavanagh tells the story of Nureyev’s impoverished background, defection to the west and international superstardom with great verve’ Independent
‘Readable and revealing, a must for all ballet fans’ Saga Magazine
‘Superbly researched’ The New York Times
‘A rigorous and insightful look at a vital era of dance’ Time Out New York
‘The definitive biography of ballet’s greatest star whose ego was as supersized as his talent … A luxurious winter read, full of Russian theatrics’ Tina Brown, American Spectator
‘A varied and vivid portrait … [Kavanagh] proves a lively guide. She presents the intense minutes leading up to Nureyev’s defection with energy and descriptive power’ The Washington Post
‘Julie Kavanagh distills the fabulous spirit of Nureyev, the ballet world’s first pop icon’ Vanity Fair