cover image Nureyev

Nureyev

Valeria Crippa. Rizzoli International Publications, $45 (192pp) ISBN 978-0-8478-2544-8

Published to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Rudolf Nureyev's death, this photo book-cum-memoir celebrates the achievements and personality of one of the 20th century's greatest dancers. Crippa, who worked as Nureyev's personal tour manager and now writes culture and lifestyle pieces for Italy's Correre della Serra, provides the book's rambling, idiosyncratic text. Nureyev's love of rare steak, his friendship with prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn, his sudden flashes of temper, his dedication to his art, and his defection from Communist Russia (which was stifling his artistic ambitions) all find their place in her narrative, but readers who are not already familiar with the world of classical ballet may have trouble following some of her allusions. Fassey's photographs, in contrast, need no explanations. Shot mostly in black and white, the pictures provide a window on the dancer's backstage life. There are images of him applying make-up in his dressing room and stretching during rehearsals. (There are several photos of him in performance as well.) A good choice for fans already familiar with the outlines of Nureyev's life, this book provides a more intimate view of the dancer.