Stefan Kanfer Knihy

The vibrant Yiddish theater, rooted in ancient traditions, comes alive through Stefan Kanfer's exploration of its role in the immigrant experience. He captures the energy, belief, and determination that fueled its establishment and success, revealing the behind-the-scenes drama along with the onstage performances. The book introduces the diverse cast of characters—actors, playwrights, and directors—who contributed to this influential cultural phenomenon. It serves as both a tribute and an elegy for a brief yet dazzling chapter in American theater history.

This definitive biography of one of the world’s greatest comedians unflinchingly yet affectionately uncovers the man behind the cigar. Here is the amazing career of the man the world recognized as Groucho: the improbable disasters of the vaudeville years; the Marx Brothers, an act so funny W.C. Fields refused to follow it; the unprecedented Broadway success of The Cocoanuts and Animal Crackers; the cinematic triumphs of Duck Soup and A Night at the Opera; and the marvelous come-back career as king of the game show hosts with You Bet Your Life. Here, too, is the man himself: a lonely middle child who aspired to be a doctor; a man who sabotaged three marriages; a father alternately indulgent and cruel. Intelligent and thorough, hilarious and sad, Groucho is a spectacular biography of the century’s most influential comedian.

Exploring the rich history of Manhattan's theater scene, this book highlights influential figures who shaped Broadway into a cultural epicenter. Notable personalities like Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Stephen Sondheim are featured, alongside the vibrant Yiddish theater and vaudeville stars. The narrative also delves into the remarkable life of Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart's collaborator, who transitioned from European fame to an unexpected life in New York, showcasing the diverse tapestry of talent that defined American theater.

A Humphrey Bogart comes along only once in a century. This biography includes Bogey's love affair with the 19-year-old Lauren Bacall, who stole To Have And Have Not - and his heart - by lolling in a doorway, tossing insolent remarks and teaching him to put his lips together and whistle.

'Easily the year's best Hollywood biog.'Independent on Sunday'Ball Of Fire reveals all about house- wife superstar Lucille Ball. Kanfer portrays Lucille Ball as insatiably anxious and insecure, a woman whose search for a father figure would only ever find the unlikely and unholdable Desi...

"Timely corporate history--as exciting and poignant as any good tale of derring-do against great odds by all-too-flawed giants. " - Kirkus Reviews With a scholar's precision and a novelist's eye, Stefan Kanfer tells the inside story of De Beers Consolidated Mines - from the nineteenth century diamond rush that transformed Johannes De Beer's humble South African farm into an exotic klondike, to the Oppenheimers' shadow empire that has achieved umatched global reach.

Humphrey Bogart's life and career are vividly explored through a critical appraisal of his iconic films, including The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. Stefan Kanfer, known for his biographies of other Hollywood legends, delves into the cultural significance of these masterpieces while sharing engaging behind-the-scenes anecdotes. The narrative also highlights the enduring romance between Bogart and Lauren Bacall, culminating in a rich portrait that underscores Bogart's unique legacy in cinema and why he remains an unparalleled figure in Hollywood history.

In an insightful portrait of an iconic artist, the author of The Eighth Sin interweaves Marlon Brando's tumultuous personal life with his remarkable acting career as he documents the actor's troubled childhood, stage and film work, self-destructive nature, often contradictory attitude toward his craft, and the tragedies that marked his final years.

Humphrey Bogart - aktor wszech czasów, charyzmatyczna ikona kina, gwiazda filmu noir. Do show-biznesu trafił przypadkiem i pracował w nim niemal dwadzieścia lat, zanim stał się gwiazdą. Ze swoim nietypowym wyglądem i zauważalną wadą wymowy z 'kompletnego amatora bez krzty talentu' zmienił się w... číst celé

Seit fast hundert Jahren zieht ein Familienunternehmen die Fäden auf dem Weltmarkt der Diamanten: die Oppenheimers. Ein Syndikat, das mit den Minen von De Beers in ein diamanthartes Geschäft eingestiegen und zu glänzendem Weltruhm gelangt ist. Die spannende Geschichte von Eitelkeit, Macht und Reichtum einer Dynastie, die erschreckend eng mit dem Imperialismus, dem Rassismus, der Korruption und Kriminalität Südafrikas verbunden ist.