Zero Dances: A Biography of Zero Mostel

By: Arthur Sainer

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Synopsis: An unconventional portrait of an unconventional actor. Sainer (theater, Sarah Lawrence) looks behind the standup comic turned award winning star to examine how his life as an artist made a shambles of his life as son, husband, father, and friend. He breaks from the narrative to describe the circumstances of interviewing Mostel's (1915-77) family, to imagine scenes that comment on the story, and to follow interesting tangents. He includes a filmography, but no bibliography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) The author intersperses the facts of the late broad way performer, Zero Mostel with anecdotes taken from the people who interacted with Zero during his life. The readers also learn about the historical, religious, and political aspects of periods that marked his life and how these aspects impacted Zero. At times, Sainer's book reads like a novel, and one gains insight into the lives and thoughts of other people beside Zero. Sainer's quotes from Zero's sons, brother, first wife, and others, make the book personal as well as historical, literary, and biographical.