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Leonard Bernstein: The Political Life of an American Musician
Posted October 19, 2020
Leonard Bernstein: The Political Life of an American Musician
(as printed in the Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Prelude, Fugue, & Riffs)
The University of California Press has published Leonard Bernstein: The Political Life of an American Musician by Barry Seldes. In this examination of Bernstein's political life, Seldes examines his career against the backdrop of Cold War America, during which time Bernstein was blacklisted by the State Department and, in 1950, had to sign a deposition to regain his passport. Making extensive use of FBI files as well as materials in the Library of Congress, Seldes illuminates the ways in which Bernstein's career intersected with some of the twentieth century's most momentous events.
“Almost two decades after Bernstein’s death, this is the first in-depth look at the man with his politics. It was worth the wait.”
-- Carol Iaciofano, Boston Globe Book Section Published On: 2009-07-11