I learned more from this book about recent poetry than from any other. I found the insights sharp and the comments to the point; and there was also a lack of the usual 'knowing' tone of academic books. There are many illuminating analyses of poems from 'The Waste Land' to 'V' and this leads to a marvellously full overview of the range of British poetry from Rupert Brooke to Seamus Heaney. I found it enrmously helpful for my essays, but I would have read it anyway!

I found this book very readable. It cast a different light onto the life of a man everyone new as brilliant. I was very surprised at how frankly this was written. No bars were held, even when Mr. Ailey didn't come across as a shining example. I think great pains were taken to retain the intergrity of the story without compromising Mr. Ailey's driving desire for privacy. The voices of many dance stars lent a certain energy to the book. Mr. Ailey made me laugh out loud while recounting details of his well-publicized breakdown. I was left wishing i'd paid more attention to this great dancer while he was yet alive.