Jerome Robbins, by Himself: Selections from His Letters, Journals, Drawings, Photographs, and an Unfinished Memoir

Jerome Robbins, By Himself presents an intimate self-portrait of the renowned choreographer and director through his personal papers and creative materials. The book compiles Robbins' letters, journals, sketches, photographs, and an incomplete memoir, spanning his early days as a dancer through his Broadway and ballet career. Editor Amanda Vaill organizes these primary materials chronologically, allowing readers to follow Robbins' artistic development and personal journey across decades. The collection includes his reflections on creating landmark works like West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, along with behind-the-scenes accounts of his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, and other theater luminaries. The assembled documents reveal Robbins as both an exacting artist and a complex individual wrestling with his identity, relationships, and creative process. Through his own words and images, this collection offers insight into the mind of a revolutionary force in 20th century dance and theater.

Readers appreciate the intimate glimpse into Jerome Robbins' personal thoughts through his own writings and artwork. Many note the book reveals his perfectionism, self-doubt, and complex relationships in the dance world. Likes: - Raw, unfiltered access to Robbins' private reflections - Inclusion of his sketches and photography - Details about his creative process - Coverage of both his ballet and Broadway work Dislikes: - Some sections feel disjointed or fragmented - Limited context provided for certain entries - Occasional repetitive passages - Heavy focus on personal struggles vs artistic achievements Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 ratings) Notable reader comment: "The format allows Robbins to tell his own story without interference. His sketches and photos add another dimension to understanding his artistic vision." - Goodreads reviewer Another notes: "Could have used more editorial guidance to connect the fragments into a more cohesive narrative." - Amazon reviewer

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🎭 Jerome Robbins wrote over 2,000 journal entries throughout his life, beginning in his teenage years and continuing until shortly before his death in 1998. 🩰 While organizing Robbins' materials for this book, editor Amanda Vaill discovered previously unknown sketches of set designs for "West Side Story" tucked inside his personal notebooks. 🎨 The book includes Robbins' own artwork - not just choreography sketches, but also landscapes, portraits, and abstract drawings he created throughout his life. 🎬 Robbins kept detailed notes about his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Mildred Newman, which provide insights into his struggles with his sexuality, Jewish identity, and relationships with collaborators. 📝 The "unfinished memoir" mentioned in the title was discovered as fragmentary pieces scattered throughout multiple notebooks, written during different decades of Robbins' life, which Vaill carefully assembled into a coherent narrative.