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Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.8/5)
Genre: Biography, Dance, Performing Arts, Photography

Book Review:
Martha Graham was not just a dancer; she was a force of nature. She didn't just perform; she revolutionized an art form. ''Martha Graham: Portrait of an Artist'' is the definitive book on this extraordinary woman, a collaboration between two people who knew her and her work better than almost anyone. It is a treasure.

LeRoy Leatherman's text is a masterpiece of intimate biography. Having worked alongside Graham for over twelve years, he writes with authority and deep affection. He traces her journey from a young woman defying convention to a legendary figure who created a new language of movement. He explains how she became, as the book's introduction notes, ''the first great woman dramatist in the history of the theatre,'' without ever writing a word for the stage. Her drama was in the body, in the raw emotion and power of her choreography.

And what choreography! Martha Swope's photographs are the perfect complement to Leatherman's words. As Graham's official photographer, she had access and an eye that no one else possessed. Her nearly two hundred ''stunning action photographs'' freeze moments of breathtaking beauty and intensity. You can feel the muscular tension, the emotional release, the sheer drama of the dance. You understand why her company was called ''the most beautiful in the world.''

This book is more than a biography of one artist. It is a meditation on the nature of art itself. It shows us the discipline, the passion, the sacrifice, and the joy of a life devoted to creative expression. It answers the question, ''What is it like to be an artist?'' by showing us one of the greatest.

For anyone interested in dance, modern art, or the lives of extraordinary women, ''Martha Graham: Portrait of an Artist'' is essential reading. It is a beautiful, moving, and inspiring book that will stay with you long after you close it. A classic.