Rosa Ponselle: A Centenary Biography (Amadeus) Hardcover – March 1, 2003

To my abject shame, I confess that prior to reading this biography, I knew Ponselle only vaguely as a "name" from the Golden Age. (Since reading the book, I've acquired dozens of her recordings and viewed her screen test!) What great fun this book is! And what a life to chronicle. Miss Ponselle is shown to be a complex, fabulous, contradictory, and sometimes infuriating human being, a woman of enormous stamina and determination. Her struggles would seem trite and unbelievable in one of those Hollywood faux-bio movies once so popular, yet she did struggle and triumph in the best screen tradition. Without resorting to any phony sensationalism, the author skillfully kept me poised on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was going to happen next. This may have been partly because I was unfamiliar with Ponselle's career, but I think it would be true for all readers. A rich and totally fulfilling book.

I enjoyed the book. I wanted to know Ms Ponselle, as I hade never read anything about her life. Being a Maryland resident for a number of years, it was very intereesting knowing she lived in Maryland and enjoyed it very much.She also had a number of famous people that she speaks about making it interesting. If you are an opera fan or a Ponselle fan you will enjoy the book.

His first Ponselle Biography , mostly authenticated by the late Hugh Johns was excellent . You should be advertising and releasingthe Doubleday biography of the Great Ponselle . Drake , who DID Not know Ponselle , having only visited her less thanfive times during the last few years of her life in Baltimore , relied on Elayne Duke and Hugh Johns to shepherd him through the first biography and arrange for his very few and unannounced visits to her home . Please release the FIRST biography ! Elayne Duke

Excellent, not only about the life of the diva, but thoroughly absorbing. The Metropolitan Opera and all its legendary singers of that time, including Caruso, are discussed and evaluated by their expert colleague.A fascinating account not to be missed by any true lover of singing.

The richness and completeness of the details

excellent book, ponselle is on of my all time favoites