Nathan was an incredible character and Connolly shows why he was certainly the most important critic of the first half of the 20th century. He also proves that Nathan is a representative American cultural figure.

I got totally caught up in Nathan's struggles with "burying" his own Jewishness and with the anti-semitism of his era.

Great stars and writers like H. L. Mencken, Eugene O'Neill, Laurette Taylor, Lillian Gish, and Tennessee Williams crowd the book's pages and bring Broadway's glory days to life. Nathan was a real "man about town" and this book captures the wit and glamour of the Great White Way.

Connolly also shows how critics today live in Nathan's shadow. He challenges them by questioning their methods and standards. (And even takes on some "high-brow" reviewers like John Lahr and Robert Brustein.)

This is a fascinating book for theatre lovers, history buffs and scholars alike. Lot's of great--never before published dish too!