Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House for an ARC of this book.

I really didn't know a lot about George Balanchine prior to this book and that was primarily why I requested it.

This book is a really in-depth book about Mr. B almost a little to long at certain points. I did read some and then put it down for a while before finishing it.

This was good and really well written, and a great book for someone that is really interested in ballet or Mr. B himself. He had a really interesting life and career and the author did a great job putting this book together.

Mr. B, for those who do not know, is George Balanchine. Mr. B was a Russian born, American Ballet choreographer. He was know for discovering/making the major ballet dancers of the 20th century. He choreographed dancers like Jacques D'Amboise, Allegra Kent, Maria Tallchief, Arthur Mitchell, and Suzanne Farrell. Mr. B created the New York City Ballet.

This biography will tell you all that and so much more. And I mean so much more. Homans goes into great detail about relationships (both romantic and professional) as well as very detailed descriptions or ballets that Balanchine created including ones that no longer exist.

This is a very long biography that takes a lot of effort to get through. Part of the reason for that is that the book feels like two books, Balanchine the man and Balanchine's ballets. While some of these stories are not mutually exclusive the very detailed descriptions of the ballets bog down the story of the man causing the book to drag on. Now with that said, if you are a ballet fan, lover of Balanchine (although his ballets are not performed much anymore I do not think, after the closure of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company), or a fan of arts history you might enjoy this biography or at least parts of it.

This was a lot, mostly in a good way. Before I got the book through Netgalley, I mostly wanted it because I'm a theatre major and I was very interested, not realizing the depth this novel would go into.
As a theatre major, highly recommend. Being about one of the biggest players in ballet it's definitely a good read for any dancer. It is a really good look into his work and influences that you just don't get from a class.
On the other hand, it's hefty. There's a lot of information about other people, I found it a little hard to keep them straight sometimes (looking at you beginning). Granted, this makes me want to reread it so I can maybe map things out in my brain easier, but a lot of people I feel like it would turn them away from it.
Regardless, this is exceptionally well researched, layed out, and written. If you like biographies, dance, or general life stories, definitely recommend.

I actually got this book from the library before getting approved on Netg. Mr. B is a great book about a man who is so hugely influential in the dance world, and chock full of facts about his life.

This incredibly, incredibly detailed book delved deep into the life of arguably the man who brought modern ballet into the spotlight - especially into the Americas. Balanchine is the name one associates with ballet when one doesn't know much about it, and this book gave new life to the man behind (literally) the curtain. I grew up dancing ballet and Balanchine was always a mysterious figure who was always seen as impacting everything even after his death. This book was a heavily detailed but informative read. Some readers might find this too in-depth, and if that's the case they can skip around to parts that may interest them the most. A lovely read. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC!

I find Balanchine to be a very interesting enigma of an artist, very interested in the portrayal from one of his swans

This is a thorough examination of Balanchine's fascinating life and career. Balletomanes will definitely want to read it.

Is it a little overlong in details for Balanchine's friends and acquaintances? In my opinion, yes. But that's a minor complaint for an otherwise beautifully written biography.

Many thanks to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

A VERY thorough biography of George Balanchine (Mr. B) written by someone who is intimately knowledgeable about the ballet world. As a long time dance patron (and many year subscriber to the New York City Ballet) I found it fascinating. It is very long, but of course you can skip around to read the parts that interest you more thoroughly.

This biography is extensively thorough, and explores the dynamic George Balanchine in depths that we’ve never seen before. It was absolutely fascinating to learn about the connection between the complexities and difficulties in Balanchine’s life and his choreography. I will say, however, readers who are not either from the dance world, or appreciators of the art, may have a difficult time getting through it, because it is LONG and dense. Growing up as a dancer and learning Balanchine’s methods, I was absolutely fascinated. Entranced, even. Homans’ depth of research is something to be marveled.

This is the most detailed and exhaustive biography of George Balanchine I've ever read. Jennifer Homans previously wrote Apollo's Angels, documenting the history of ballet. In this tome, at nearly 800 pages, she revisits "Mr. B"'s dramatic life. She begins with his family ancestry and history of Russia during the past few centuries. She continues through details of his childhood, his tragic experience during the war, and eventual migration through Europe. Homans parallels the loves and conflicts of Balanchine's life with the ballets he choreographed. This is a fascinating read. It is several hundred pages until he begins his ballet dynasty with Lincoln Kirstein (whose own history is extensively detailed). Her travels throughout Europe and the many, many Balanchine associates she interviewed are evident throughout the telling of the influential genius' life. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.